The Arkansas high school baseball season kicks off on Mar. 2, opening day for regular season action under AAA regulations. Leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down to the official Prep Baseball Arkansas Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

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2026 SEASON OUTLOOK

No. of Returning Position Players: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 8

Top Returners:

• Marcus Bates (2026) - SS, 6’1 190, R/R
  • Crowder commit
• Sawyer Wilson (2027) - 3B/SS, 6’0 175, R/R
  • Central Arkansas commit
• Blake Mitchem (2027) - P/1B, 6’4, 195.
• Evin Campbell (2027) - P, 6’2, 200
  • UARM commit
• Noah Roberson (2026) - RF/P, 6’0, 205
  • Seminole State commit
• Easton Snellings (2028) - OF, 5’9, 170 R/L
  

Top Newcomers:

• Landen Pelkey (2028) - OF/P, 6’0, 170, L/L
• Austin Hill (2028) - P/1B, 6’2, 180 L/L
• Micah Bates (2028) - C/P, 6’1, 150, R/R
• Carson Potts (2028) - P, 6’0, 175, R/R

Key Players Lost:

• Mason McDaniel
• Brock Mattox 

Coach’s Insight: “[Our strengths are] experience and depth. [Our weakness is] inexperience at catcher” – Mark Balisterri , head coach

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Find more information on the 2026 Benton program below:

+ Visit Prep Baseball Arkansas’ 2026 AAA Team Previews page to learn more.

+ If you are a high school coach and didn’t receive our questionnaire, please click HERE to fill out the form

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