In his second season at Springdale High, coach Shohn Doty is already seeing a turn around in this program that has been struggling over recent years.
"I think the biggest thing is, you know, I'm a Springdale native," Doty said. "It means a lot for me to be here. Maybe trying to instill that into our players, the importance of the name on the front rather than the name on the back."
But, Doty's name carries some clout. The head dog has spent 22 years coaching in the college ranks, and shaping the arms of some baseball greats, including Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
"You know I hate to say that. I mean I think I've had an opportunity, you know coaching in college for 22 years, to be around a lot of good coaches, and see how they went about their business. and how they approached the game on a day-to-day basis," Doty said.
Doty has helped drastically for the Bulldogs though. Previous years, Springdale struggled to get wins. Now, half way through the season, they've reached double digits in the win column.
"We're definitely on a different level with practicing and playing, and going the way we go about things every day. It's definitely a change," senior pitcher Troy Bpyd said.
Change that has this team eyeing a post-season spot.