Hounds Baseball Magazine

Spring 2024

INSIDE EDITION

THE MAKING OF A GREAT TEAM

THE PLAYERS

WHO ARE THEY?

GEARING UP FOR A COMPETITIVE SEASON

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HOUNDSBASEBALL

CONTENTS SCHEDULE + PERFORMANCE + NUTRITION

05 SCHEDULE

Here’s a copy of Sloan-Hendrix High School Baseball Schedule

12 PERFORMANCE SECTION 7 ways to perform at your best on the field and in the classroom

28 NUTRITION 10 Ways to Use Nutrition to Gain Strength and Improve Performance

17

TIPS TO MAKE YOU A FASTER RUNNER

20 EXCLUSIVE!

THE MAKING OF A GREAT TEAM

GET TO KNOW YOUR GREYHOUNDS The players are excited to represent our community in the sport they love. Get to know a little about some of our players.

32 THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF BASEBALL

Paint the Black Broadcast

02

30 SOUNDS OF THE HOUNDS A list of music the players and coaches listen to get Hype for games

SPRING 2024 | ISSUE 01

08

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SLOAN-HENDRIX HIGH SCHOOL

BASEBALL SCHEDULE Feb 26

Westside

Mar 26

White County Central *

Feb 29

Hoxie

Mar 29

Quitman *

Mar 1

ICC *

Apr 1

Cedar Ridge *

Mar 4

Cave City

Apr 4

Mount Vernon-Enola *

Mar 5

Cedar Ridge *

Apr 5

ICC *

Apr 9

Pocahontas-Cancelled

Apr 11

Walnut Ridge

Apr 15

SS Bee Branch *

Apr 16

White County Central * “Senior Night”

Mar 7

Riverside

Mar 8

Bee Branch *

Mar 11

Tuckerman

Mar 12

Westside

Mar 14

Mount Vernon-Enola *

Mar 15

Pocahontas

Apr 18

Tuckerman

Mar 25

Walnut Ridge

Apr 19

Quitman*

AWAY

HOME

*Conference

Games start at 4:30 Schedule is subject to change

April 25-27 District

May 2-4 Regionals

May 9-11 State

May 17-18 Finals

2024

SLOAN-HENDRIX GREYHOUNDS

Middle Row: Jayden Gardiner, Bryce Echeverria, Wilson Dean, Hudson Rorex, Corey Dail, Corey Sullens, Hunter Mitchell, Stetson Wall Front Row: Chad Bates and Kolten Matthews (not pictured: Jaden White)

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Back Row: Drake Nash, Andrew Johnson, Owen Wheeler, Wyatt Sundahl, Logan Hill, Braxton Wall, Taylor Murphy, Malachi Johnson

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Get To Know Your Greyhounds

2024

This year's team will be led by seniors Corey Dail, Hunter Mitchell, and Nathan Woolard. Corey loves baseball and roping. He was All-State last year and continues to be a driving force that will propel the team into the season.

Hunter Michell brings a work ethic that is not matched by anyone on the team. He has committed himself to getting better each year and earning a spot on the roster. Nathan will be using his unorthodox pitching style to help the team.

Nathan adds the right attitude to the team. He is a team player that will do whatever is needed to better the organization.

Several juniors will add depth and a spark to the team this year. Wilson Dean is the very definition of competitiveness. He has worked hard over the past few offseasons to not only get stronger but to get faster as well. His work ethic has not only allowed his strength and speed to increase, but he has also increased his mental toughness.

Braxton Wall started his high school baseball career with a Grand Slam at his first at-bat as a Freshman. Now, as a junior, he continues to be solid at the plate and a menace to pitchers when he gets on the base pads. Jaydon Gardiner has worked hard to learn the game. Jayd0n uses the offseasons not only to get his body stronger and faster, but he uses it to continue to learn the game and grow his defensive abilities. Drake Nash has labored to become a better hitter and pitcher. Drake has used the past couple of years to create an arsenal of pitches and become a consistent hitter. Logan Hill brings a look from the left side at the pitcher’s mound as well as at the plate.

Logan will give the team another solid bat in the lineup and give the defense more versatility.

s s e n e v i t i t e p m o C Depth, Versatility,

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The sophomores on the team will be valuable assets to this year’s squad. They bring a competitive spirit and team mindset to the organization. Hudson Rorex will add to the pitching depth and superb defensive knowledge and abilities. In addition, Hudson will be an asset on the offensive side of the game. Hudson leads by example and puts the team first. Corey Sullens adds speed and aggressiveness on the bases. Corey has the capability defensively one of the best outfielders in the state. Stetson Wall is another sophomore who adds versatility to the team. Stetson is a wall (pun intended) on the field. He doesn’t let much by him defensively. Stetson has an eagle eye at the plate and works the pitch counts to his advantage.

2024

Taylor Murphy, Owen Wheeler, Bryce Echeverria, Jaden White, Wyatt Sundahl, and Andrew Johnson are other sophomores who will play valuable roles in the team as well. Taylor will use his glove at first base like an excavator digging out every ball in the dirt. The club will need his bat to go deep into the postseason.

Owen worked last year to be made into a utility player.

He will be taking on several roles both offensively and defensively. He is competitive and a grinder. Bryce has worked hard to utilize his speed both in the outfield to read flyball effectively and on the base pads to increase more opportunities to score runs. Jaden, Wyatt, and Andrew have all focused on getting stronger and faster in this offseason. Jaden will use his strength and laid-back personality to keep the team relaxed and focused. Wyatt has seen progress in hitting this offseason. He was one of the best at hitting off the high-velocity pitching machine. Andrew is new to the game but has worked hard to learn the game. Andrew is extremely fast and can be counted on to always give his best effort at anything he does.

t r o f f E d n a , d e e p Strength, S

These 20 athletes make up your 2024 Sloan-Hendrix Greyhounds.

They are hopeful that they will represent you well this upcoming season.

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SPRING 2024

We only have a few freshmen this year, but we hope they can take advantage of any opportunities they get to help the ball club.

Malachi Johnson is a freshman who can help the club at the plate and from the pitcher’s mound. Malachi will use his strength and size to overpower opponents. Chad Bates is another freshman who has been busy this offseason. He has good speed and reads a ball well off the bat from the outfield. Kolten Matthews brings a great attitude to the team and will do what’s asked of him to help the team in any capacity.

#3 COREY DAIL

PITCH CATC ER HER

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7 WAYS TO PERFORM AT YOUR BEST ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM Establish a Schedule Balance your time Dedicate time for both activities

Identify the Important Responsibilities Focus on High-Priority tasks

Time Management Be Present in Mind and Body Avoid Multi-tasking to Ensure Quality Focus

Continue reading at next page >

There are many ways to perform your best on the baseball field and in the classroom. I believe that these skills can help anyone, not just high school students. I have made 7 skills that I have found essential in balancing the two arenas.

#1 Establish a schedule

Balance your time between sports and academics by creating a schedule. Dedicate time for both academics and baseball practice.

#2 Prioritize Tasks

Identify your most important academic and baseball responsibilities.

Focus on completing high-priority tasks first to manage your workload effectively.

#3 Time Management

Use your time wisely during study sessions and practice. Be present in mind and body during each of the separate activities. Avoid multitasking to ensure quality focus on each activity.

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SPRING 2024

Prioritize Tasks

HOW TO PERFORM YOUR BEST ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM

HOUNDS BASEBALL

Communicate Keep open communication.

Set Realistic Goals Short-term and Long-term goals Manageable steps.

Ensure Proper Sleep, Nutrition, and Exercise Healthy Body and Mind Contribute to Better Performance

Stay Flexible Be Adaptable

Adjust Prioritites

#4 Communicate

Keep open communication between teachers and coaches. Inform them about your commitments and work together to find solutions when conflicts arise.

#5 Set Realistic Goals

Establish achievable short and long-term goals for both academics and baseball. Break them down into manageable steps to track progress.

#6 Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Ensure proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise to support overall well-being. A healthy body and mind contribute to better performance.

#7 Stay Flexible

Be adaptable to changes in your schedule and be prepared to adjust priorities.

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SPRING 2024

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

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5 Tips To Make You A Faster Runner Interval Training Incorporate high-intensity intervals into your runs alternating between sprints and recovery periods. This helps improve your cardiovascular fitness and speed.

Strength Training Include strength exercises like squats, lunges, and plyometrics to build muscle power, which contributes to faster sprints.

Proper Form Work on running form. Maintain an upright posture, use your arms efficiently, and focus on a quick turnover of your feet.

Sprint Drills Practice specific sprint drills to enhance your sprinting mechanics.

Examples include strides, accelerations, and hill sprints.

Flexibility and Mobility

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in your muscles and joints. This can help you achieve a fuller range of motion, optimizing your stride length and speed

SPRING 2024

Ensure good flexibility and mobility 12

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INFIEL DER

The Making of a Great Team There are 10 essential skills needed to become a great high school baseball team.

These skills are not the only ones that could be included in the making of a competitive team, but they are the foundation to any successful ball club.

#1 Batting Technique Mastering various batting styles and having consistent contact with the ball is the first essential to having success on the diamond. Players need to practice hitting in a variety of situations to properly prepare for gamelike play. Knowing what constitutes a good at-bat helps to solidify players' abilities and job requirements while there in the batter’s box.

List of quality at-bats

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Bunt. Moving runners 90 feet and getting closer to home plate is a necessary and lost art of the game.

In high school, the ability for a team to bunt allows more opportunities for the defensive team to make mistakes and check their mental and defensive abilities. Taking advantage of a third baseman playing back on a quick offensive at the plate is an exciting part of the game.

Base on Balls. Walks are productive. It gives more batters the ability to look at more of a variety of pitches. It also means more pitches are added to the pitch count.

Home Run. How would that not be considered quality?

Base Hit. You can’t score runs unless you can get on base. I’ll take a dying quail over the shortstop’s head anytime.

Extra Base Hit. Be aggressive on the bases to get in scoring position early.

Long At-Bat. A batter can fend off 9 or more pitches constitutes a great at-bat.

2-Out RBI. Delivering runs batted in when there are 2 outs is crucial for the success (or failure) of a baseball team. Often, this mentally decapitates the defense.

Hard Hit Ball. If you’re hitting the ball square, then eventually they‘ll fall between the lines.

Sacrifice. A flyball when a runner is on third with less than 2 outs is vital to a great team.

Any RBI. Scoring more runs than the other team defines winning on the baseball field.

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#3 Fielding Prowess

#4 Base Running

Agile and effective fielding, including catching, throwing, and anticipating plays. Strong defensive skills, including infield and outfield play, and the ability to make routine and challenging plays.

Quick and strategic base running, with an understanidng of when to steal bases and advance. Understanding game situations, reading pitchers, and making intelligent decisions on the basepaths. Individual players with speed can be a significant asset on the basepaths.

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SPRING 2024

#2 Pitching Accuracy

Accuracy, velocity, command of multiple pitches, and an understanding of pitch sequencing.

Developing precise pitching skills to control the game and keep the opposition off balance is a vital part of the make up of a great baseball team.

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#6 Fitness and Endurance

#7 Game Strategy

Maintaining physical fitness and endurance to endure the demands of the game. Offseason workout investments pays play dividends during the regular season and playoffs.

Baseball IQ: Understanding the strategic aspects of the game, including situational play, pitch selection, and defensive positioning. Having situational awareness is vital to taking advantage of teams with lower baseball IQ’s.

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SPRING 2024

#5 Team Communication

Clear communication on the field is crucial for coordinating plays and maintaining team cohesion.

Building a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among players fosters a positive team culture.

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#9 Mental Toughness

#10 Dedication and Discipline

Handling pressure situations, maintaining focus and bouncing back from setbacks.. Be resilient in the face of adversity. Remember, adversity builds character. Don’t allow a bad play to dictate the next play. It could mean the difference in winning and losing.

Dedication to consistent practice, training and adhering to team rules for a successful season.

During the offseason, we want to swing the bat 200 times during a typical day of hitting practice.

Great teams find a way to get the swings. No excuses! Do the work!

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SPRING 2024

#8 Sportsmanship

Exhibiting good sportsmanship, respecting opponents, teammates, and officials. How you react to adversity says a lot about you and your team. Baseball is full of errors. Your attitude determines your direction.

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10 WAYS TO USE NUTRITION TO GAIN STRENGTH AND INCREASE PERFORMANCE 1. Adequate Caloric Intake: High school athletes engaged in intense training need to ensure they are consuming enough calories to support their energy expenditure. This is crucial for muscle gain and overall performance.

2. Protein Intake: Protein is essential for muscle repair and growth.

Encourage athletes to include good sources of protein in each meal, such as lean meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, legumes, and plant-based protein like beans.

3. Carbohydrates for Energy: Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy, especially during high-intensity exercise. Emphasize complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes to provide sustained energy.

4. Healthy Fats: Include sources of healthy fats in the diet, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. These fats play a role in hormone production and overall health.

5. Hydration: Proper hydration is critical for athletic performance.

Encourage athletes to drink water consistently throughout the day and to consume additional fluids during and after workouts. Dehydration can negatively impact strength and recovery.

It's important for high school athletes to understand that nutrition is just one component of overall performance, and a well-rounded approach including proper training, rest, and mental well-being is essential for optimal results.

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6. Timing of Meals: Stress the importance of eating balanced meals and snacks throughout the day. Pre-workout and postworkout nutrition is crucial. Consuming a mix of carbohydrates and protein before and after training sessions can aid in performance and recovery.

7. Nutrient-Dense Foods: Focus on nutrient-dense foods that provide a variety of vitamins and minerals. A colorful plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables can help ensure athletes get a broad range of nutrients.

8. Supplements (if necessary): While most nutrients should come from whole foods, some athletes may benefit from supplements, especially if they have specific deficiencies. Common supplements for athletes include whey protein, creatine, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any supplements.

9. Consistency: Consistency is key. Encourage athletes to maintain a consistent eating schedule, stay hydrated, and make nutrition a priority.

10. Rest and Recovery: Adequate rest and recovery are crucial for muscle growth.

Encourage athletes to prioritize sleep and consider incorporating recovery-focused nutrition strategies.

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Finance Manager Cavenaugh Auto World Walnut Ridge, AR

Coach Winston

Nelly-Here Comes The Boom

Coach Dean

AC/DC-Thunderstruck

Corey Dail

Crowder-Good God Almighty

Hunter Mitchell

Metallica-Enter Sandman

Corey Sullens

Edwin Starr-War

Braxton Wall

Chase Rice-Lions

Stetson Wall

Kolby Cooper- KIll Me

Hudson Rorex

Johnny Cash-God’s Gonna Cut You Down

Logan Hill

Nate Smith-World on Fire

Taylor Murphy

Thin Lizzy-The Boys Are Back In Town

Wilson Dean

Remix-Can’t Tell It All

Bryce Echeverria El Jarabe Tapatio Nathan Woolard

Three Doors Down-When I’m Gone

Chad Bates

AC/DC-Thurderstruck

Wyatt Sundahl

Mountain-Mississippi Queen

Malachi Johnson Kenny Rogers-The Greatest Drake Nash

Metallica-Enter Sandman

Jadon Gardiner

Treaty Oak Revival-In Between

Kolten Matthews AC/DC-Thunderstruck Andrew Johnson Imagine Dragons-Natural Crowder-Lift Your Head, Weary Sinner

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SPRING 2024 SPTRING 2024

Owen Wheeler

12 12

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THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF BASEBALL PAINT THE BLACK BROADCAST

by Coach Winston

E

very year I try to find that missing piece of the puzzle that pulls the whole season into perspective.

The problem is the piece is never the same. Each year the team chemistry is different. I decided a few years ago to put a name to that missing piece. I refer to it as organic chemistry, because it is so hard to solve and find the solution.

Coaches know their team has to have team chemistry, but I believe that chemistry has to happen organically. Many of the same principles that define organic chemistry define a well-working baseball club as well. One can express the parallelism between a team and its metaphorical relationship with organic chemistry into 5 areas.

Team Dynamics as Molecules In the context of a baseball team, you might metaphorically compare team dynamics to molecules. The individual players are like atoms, and the way they interact and bond with each other represents the team chemistry. This is what most think of when they think of team chemistry. Just like atoms, the players have to do work with one another effectively and create a team bond.

Roles as Functional Groups Different positions and roles on the team is like to functional groups in organic compounds. Each player's unique skills and strengths contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team, similar to how functional groups determine the properties of a molecule. Players have their own job and duties to perform. For the team to function properly, players must know their role at any given moment.

Communication as Reaction Pathways Effective communication on the field and in the dugout is like the reaction pathways in organic chemistry. The smooth flow of information and coordination among team members is crucial for success, just as specific reaction pathways are essential for the synthesis of organic compounds.

My highly effective teams have always communicated with diligence and precision. Communication occurs not only on the field during games, but also during practice. Not to mention, the importance of a vocal dugout.

Coach as Catalyst The coach is similar to a catalyst in the organic chemistry of a baseball team. A catalyst facilitates and influences reactions without being consumed, similar to how a coach guides and influences the team's performance without directly participating in the game. A good coach can help a good team become great. A good coach knows their team and the moves needed to get the team to react to reach their top performance level.

Adaptability as Isomerism Isomerism in organic chemistry refers to compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures. Similarly, a baseball team might need to adapt its strategy and structure (lineup, defensive positions) based on the opponent, weather conditions, or other factors. This is the reason why coaches scout opposing teams. A good team has to adapt to ever-changing conditions. Every opposing team is different molecularly, and thus, reacts differently with another team. We want to know not only their weaknesses, but also their strengths.

Given the right culture, the opposing team’s strengths can be marginalized if our team is able to adapt quickly and effectively with all the other areas listed.

Each year a different group of young men step onto the baseball field and try to organically create a team that plays as one unit toward one goal. We will soon see if this year's team can form the bonds that are necessary for a successful and productive season.

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SPRING 2024

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