Conway Rockies off to strong summer, hoping to continue positive ways

If there was one thing the Conway High baseball team could have used more of during this past season, experience would be a good choice.

The Wampus Cats had a shaky start to their spring but finished just a couple of wins short of a 7A-Central Conference championship. Much of that turnaround can be attributed to the improved play over the course of the season.

That's not something, though, Conway coach Noel Boucher wants to see go to waste as the summer approaches. Instead, he's hoping the Rockies an 18-under summer select team can continue.

"I think earlier in the (high school season), the younger guys were in way over their head, especially with the caliber of competition we faced," Boucher said. "They picked it up and started playing at a different level. They did better the more we played."

So far so good for the Rockies, too, after a 4-0 start heading into Monday's action. The Rockies were scheduled to face Benton on Monday night.

Jay Mattox, who is in his second year coaching the Rockies, said he has "a real good group." Helping that group mature on the baseball field is what Mattox is looking to accomplish.

"Summer select is a chance to get the kids more experience," Mattox said. "They're playing against some good players who are older than them, so they can have the chance to see what they've got."

That's why the next couple of months could go a long way in the future of the Conway baseball program.

"It's a summer to work on things they struggled with during the season," Mattox said. "It's also a summer to help them win games for coach Boucher and coach (Barry) Lueders next year."

Inclement weather proved to be a frequent foe for the Cats, decreasing the amount of playing time the players could get. More cooperative weather over the summer would no doubt be a welcomed sign.

"I think it's huge," Boucher said of playing time during the summer. "They'll get to work on things we didn't get to work on during the spring. They'll get a lot of mound time and get to swing at a lot of pitches.

"It'll help us grow up, and I think we'll be ready come spring."

Doing that, though, will take a solid effort from the whole roster. Mattox doesn't see that as a problem.

"We're counting on pretty much everyone," Mattox said. "Everyone is going to get a chance to contribute. Overall, the talent is really good."

The Rockies will be looking to get many strong innings on the mound from Matt Lefler, Connor McClain, Jordan Bell and Andrew Adams. That group helped the Rockies defeat Benton and Little Rock Catholic during tournament play last week to open the season.

Hitting from players such as Aaron Boucher, Cole Anderson, Wesley Hoover, Jordan Cates and Tyler Langley helped give the Rockies a boost, Mattox said, in wins over Russellville and Greenbrier. While neither one of those departments may drastically stand out over the other, Mattox likes what the team brings to the table overall.

"We've got some good pitchers," Mattox said. "We've got some people who can hit the ball well. There's not going to be a lot of home runs, but we've got everything we need.

"Overall, our strongest suit is probably the offensive ability. We've got a really quick team. Plus, they like having fun."

Changing a few outcomes of games would add to that fun.

"Some of the games (during the spring) we dropped by a run or two," Boucher said. "Hopefully, we can now turn those around and win by a run or two."

Regardless, building toward a stronger future is still the goal. There may already be a strong nucleus in tact.

"The future is bright for Conway baseball," Mattox said. "It's going to be fun the next few years."

The Rockies are scheduled to host Greenbrier at 5 p.m. Wednesday in their first home game of the season. That contest will be played at Wampus Cat Field.