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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Farmington's 3 Aces
Western Arkansas, AR
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By: Bob Stephens
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Photo(s) By: Ryan Cunningham
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Albrecht, Kahl and Miller form arguably the best pitching staff in the state
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“These three are a very special group. For a coach, it’s one of those deals that come around maybe once in a lifetime. I’ve had really good pitchers here before, maybe two at once even, but never three as good as these.” — Farmington baseball coach Jay Harper.
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Coach Jay Harper hopes three aces are good enough to bring a state championship to Farmington. But for now, he’s simply enjoying one of the finest seasons in Cardinals history.
Much of the credit for Farmington’s success – the Cardinals started 13-1 in their quest to return to the Class 4A state championship game – can be attributed to the talented trio of Evan Abrecht, Wes Kahl and Brandon Miller. They are Harper’s three mound aces and the team’s three best hitters.
“These three are a very special group,” Harper said. “For a coach, it’s one of those deals that come around maybe once in a lifetime. I’ve had really good pitchers here before, maybe two at once even, but never three as good as these.”
Abrecht, who will pitch next season for the Air Force Academy, has evolved into the staff leader. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder intimidates hitters with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 80s while mixing in an effective breaking ball and changeup.
Kahl, who hit cleanup and was the staff ace as a freshman, has a similar style.
“In my opinion, Wes and Evan are the top two pitchers in the state, or at least up there,” Miller said. “Evan’s a real good student of the game and has a plan when he’s on the mound. He doesn’t just overpower hitters; he keeps them off-balance.”
As for Kahl, who was his teammate at age nine, Miller said, “I think as soon as he was born he had a ball in his hand. Wes is fearless. His confidence level is so high.”
Miller, the leadoff hitter, plays center field when Abrecht pitches while Kahl is the shortstop. When Kahl pitches, Miller moves to shortstop with Kahl usually in left field.
“They’re exceptional baseball players that lead by example,” Harper said. “That’s what I like about them. They’re not big-headed. They’re not glory hounds. I don’t think there’s any jealousy between them.”
Each spoke glowingly of the others, citing their low-key leadership ability and dedication to individual improvement and team goals.
“We have a great attitude this year,” Abrecht said. “We’ve got more confidence at the plate and on the mound. Everybody’s stepping up and getting it done, from one through nine.”
Farmington highlighted its early-season success with a 7-1 victory against 7A Bentonville in which Kahl and Abrecht pitched.
“To beat the number four ranked team in the state overall is an accomplishment, especially at their place,” Harper said.
Harper, in his sixth year as Cardinals baseball coach, is restoring past tradition. Farmington won the 1985 state championship and reached the state tournament from 1990-92 but not again until last year.
Kahl led last year’s team in average (.492), home runs (six), RBIs (34) and runs (24). Through 2008’s first 14 games, Kahl hit .340 with four homers and 14 RBIs while compiling a 4-1 mound record with three saves and a 1.97 ERA.
Miller (.429) is leading the team in steals for the second straight year and is 4-0 with a 2.86 ERA.
Abrecht was experiencing a dream season. He led the team in hitting (.559) and was 5-0 with three saves, a microscopic ERA of 0.90 and had struck out 59, walked just six and allowed only 10 hits in 31 innings.
“Evan can blow it past anybody,” Kahl said. “He’s almost always ‘on’ and he’s usually dominant.”
“I think Evan will be a great pitcher at the next level,” Harper said.
Kahl’s numbers were nearly as good: 32 innings, 19 hits, eight walks and 52 strikeouts.
Miller doesn’t throw as hard as the other two but doesn’t beat himself.
“Brandon has a way of getting it done,” Abrecht said. “He hits spots. He may not get many strikeouts but you look up and the other team only got four hits.”
It amounts to a nice problem for Harper when he makes out a lineup.
“It’s been great coaching these guys,” he said. “They’re good students, they do the right thing in practice and they’re great teammates.”
Now, the trio of aces hopes to end its season with a win at Baum Stadium.
“We need to be state champions,” Abrecht said. “Every day we go on the field we think about that.”
Name: Evan Abrecht
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-5
Style: Calm, unemotional
Notable: Will play for Air Force and wants to be a pilot
Quotable: “I’d love to not lose a game (pitching) and hit .600, but I’d trade all that for a state championship.”
Name: Wes Kahl
Class: Senior
Height: 5-foot-10
Style: Consumed with baseball
Notable: Batted cleanup all four years for Farmington
Quotable: “My favorite position is catcher but I’ve really enjoyed playing shortstop this year.”
Name: Brandon Miller
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-1
Style: Amazing work ethic
Notable: Four-year starter is Cardinals’ best all-around player
Quotable: “I’d think we’re one of the favorites (to win state). Last year brought us together and prepared us for this season.”
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