By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Beebe High School ace pitcher Angus Denton made his college choice official Friday at BHS when the senior right hander signed his National Letter of Intent to play baseball next year at the University of Arkansas.
Friday’s signing was a dream come true for Denton, who finished his junior season with a 6-2 record, a 0.41 ERA and he struck out 96 of the 199 batters he faced last spring.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Denton. “It’s always been a dream to be a Razorback, and for it to actually happen, it’s a dream come true. It’s something that makes me really happy and I feel really blessed. I’m really excited for it to happen.”
Denton first received the offer from Arkansas at the beginning of last season, and it was his unique delivery and effectiveness that the school was intrigued by.
The Badger ace, who was All-State as a junior, elaborated on what the Razorbacks and head coach Dave Van Horn liked about his style and efficiency, and how the Hogs plan to use him in the early portion of his collegiate career.
“I’m a drop-down pitcher,” Denton said. “I throw a good submarine and I get a lot of sink on my ball. So, I’m more of a guy that will come out of the bullpen – get ground balls, get a lot of outs for them. They said I’d be really active freshman year coming out of the bullpen.”
Beebe coach Mark Crafton will certainly miss seeing Denton, a 4.0 student, in a Badger uniform after this year, but he’s excited to see his ace right hander’s dream come true and he’s just as proud of his work ethic off the field as he is with what he’s done on the diamond.
“It’s a big occasion,” said Crafton, “not only for our school, but for our program. It’s a testament to the work ethic that Angus has put in. He’s really tried to better himself as an individual on the field, and I can’t say enough about his work ethic in the classroom.
“He’s carried a 4.0 since his freshman year. He’s kept his nose to the grind in his academics and it’s paid off on the playing field as well. He’s a well-rounded young man.”
Denton still has a season left as a Badger, though, and has set some personal goals for himself, but has even bigger goals he’d like to achieve with the team.
“I want to go undefeated on the mound,” Denton said. “For us as a team, I would really like to win conference, and the ultimate goal is to go to Baum and win state.”
