FARMINGTON -- Dozens packed Farmington's indoor practice facility Thursday to watch three Cardinal baseball players sign college scholarships.
Catcher Caleb Reagan signed with Connors State College in Warner, Okla., while infielders Blake Madewell and Drew Vinson inked with Ecclesia College in Springdale.
It's the third time since 2008 the Cardinals have had three or more college signees from the same senior class.
"We expect these things," Harper said. "We expect to be in the state tournament. We expect to compete for championships, and we expect to send players to the next level.
"Northwest Arkansas is really a mecca of baseball talent with all of the 7As and surrounding schools like Shiloh [Christian], Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Elkins and a few others that regularly have college signees.
"And we expect to have five or six [baseball signees] in our next class."
Reagan began catching college coaches' attention while playing for the Arkansas Yard Dawgs last summer. He sported a .972 fielding percentage in 141 total chances.
"I wanted to go to a junior college that had a winning tradition and helped players get to the next level," Reagan said. "And the catcher there now is headed to Virginia Tech. There's really good talent coming out of there, so I'm ready to get there and get to work."
Vinson, who committed just one error in 21 starts at first base, said he may end up at either first or third at Ecclesia College.
"Ecclesia was really where I wanted to go," Vinson said. "I liked the small school atmosphere, and it was close enough that I could stay close to my family."
Madewell, a shortstop who batted .390 with a team-high 40 runs, worried if he would even draw any college interest after moving from The Colony, Texas, during the school year.
"Nov. 1 was my first day here, and I wondered if I would even get a shot -- any shot [to play in college]," Madewell said. "I sent out a highlight video and [Ecclesia's coaches] had me come in for a private workout, so everything worked out."
Sports on 05/25/2016