Lakeside's leading sophomore baseball player wasted no time in showing why he was an early target for the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks.
Ethan Bates committed to coach Dave Van Horn's program before the 2018 season and put together a historic season as the The Sentinel Record's 2018 Baseball Player of the Year and an All-Garland County First Team selection. He is the son of Roger and Robin Bates.
"Really, I just focus on doing what is best for the team," Bates said. "The team is going to need hits. Get a hit here, drive in a run. Even if it is a sacrifice fly or a groundout, if it scores a run, it is better for the team."
Bates hit .437 this season with four home runs, six doubles, two triples, 24 walks, 12 stolen bases, a .556 on-base percentage and a .690 slugging percentage. The sophomore racked up 41 RBIs and scored 34 runs in just 30 games.
"Hitting is my favorite thing to do," Bates said. "I love to hit."
Bates said he heads to the plate with a different mentality with runners in scoring position.
"If somebody is on third base, I'm just trying to pull the ball," Bates said. "I am trying to hit a grounder to second base or a long fly to right field or center field to try to get that runner in.
"But if there is somebody on second, I am trying to drive the ball somewhere just to be able to get him in to score."
Lakeside (22-8) boasted seven batters with a batting average of .287 or better this season. Senior catcher Zac Melugin trailed closely behind Bates at .423.
Arkansas is recruiting Bates as a shortstop, but Lakeside coach Leighton Hardin called Bates the Rams' "bell cow" on the mound. He was 4-3 with one save and a 1.77 ERA in 55 1/3 innings across 14 appearances this season. He struck out 74 batters and walked 21.
Lakeside's staff compiled a team ERA of 2.31. The Rams also boasted All-Garland County selections Gage Golden (6-1, 1.82), a sophomore with 28 strikeouts and only eight walks in 34 2/3 innings, and Remy Bilodeau (6-3, 2.57), a signee for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders with 46 strikeouts and 15 walks in 32 2/3 innings.
"Everyone sees the numbers and knows Ethan is a valuable pitcher and hitter," Hardin said. "What people don't see is the amount of work Ethan puts into becoming a better player. The weekend Ethan went to Arkansas, we knew he was going to be offered. A lot of 16-year-old kids let that get to their head and stop working and stop listening to their coaches.
"Ethan did just the opposite. He has worked even harder since that time and wants extra instruction anytime he can get it. It doesn't seem to matter what time I drive by our field or indoor facility, Ethan is almost always there. Other guys in our locker room see it and sees what it takes to get to that level. Then they follow suit because that want to get to that level as well."
Lakeside set out this season to win the 5A/6A-6 blended conference and win the 5A-South tournament. The Rams were 22-5 after a win in the district tournament and had not lost back-to-back games all season.
"We were able to do that, which is a big accomplishment for us, because we have not been able to do it in a while," Bates said of winning the regular season conference title. "We really wanted to get past the first round in state, because we have not done that either in I don't know how many years. We had a good run at it this year. We just weren't able to seal the deal."
Lakeside lost, 5-1, in the second round of the 5A-South tournament to White Hall (26-7). Magnolia (19-6) took the third place game, 6-2. Both teams were quarterfinalists in the Class 5A state tournament.
The Rams were left with an unfortunate matchup with 5A-West champion Greenbrier (26-6), an eventual semifinalist, in the first round of the state tournament. Sophomore Cayden Wallace, also a top prospect, helped the Panthers hold off Lakeside, 2-1.
"It is not the way you want it to end, but I felt we had a really good year," Bates said. "It was a good season. I feel like next year and the year after that, we are going to be very good."
Bates had an .895 fielding percentage this season, but he said he wants to improve his fielding ahead of next season in order to make less errors.
"Toward the end of the year, I started taking on more than I did at the start of the season," Bates said. "I realized the team needs a bigger backbone than just two or three people. We need more leaders to step up and be part of the team and help the team out.
"We don't need just two leaders and a bunch of followers. We need a bunch of leaders that can step up and get it done."
Lakeside will be part of the new 32-team Class 5A in the next Arkansas Activities Association classification cycle. The 2018-20 cycle includes Classes 2A-7A for football, but 7A becomes 6A in other sports with the 16 6A schools in football joining the 16 largest 5A schools in other sports such as basketball, baseball and softball.
The Rams' new conference will include Hot Springs (7-12) and Lake Hamilton (5-17), as well as 6A state runner-up Benton (22-12), El Dorado (20-9), Texarkana (19-10) and 6A semifinalist Sheridan (28-6), winner of two of the previous three state championships. Lakeside won a top showdown, 4-2, with Sheridan this season, but Bates said it will be a challenge to compete in next year's 5A.
"We beat them, but they were the real deal," Bates said. "Those guys can hit the ball. They are really good."
Bates was one of only three All-State selections from Garland County after only Lakeside, Jessieville and Mountain Pine made it to state. Also selected were Mountain Pine senior Matthew Herron and Jessieville senior Logan Perkins.
Ole Miss coaches have also approached Bates, but Bates said it has been his dream to play for the Razorbacks.
"I have really just focused on going to their camps and talking to those coaches," Bates said. "That is my dream. Since I was 5, it was either there or Texas. Those were the two places I have always wanted to go."
Bates said he considered Texas in honor of a family member who died of leukemia at a young age.
"Arkansas is five hours closer," Bates said. "It is easier to go to and I love it up there."
Bates said he is thankful of his coaches and family for their support. He said his father, Hardin, coach Garrett Bock and Rich Thompson have all helped him to become a top player on the diamond.
Sports on 05/27/2018