8AAA OPEN CHAMPIONS BENTON EVERETT PANTHERS
9 OPEN CHAMPIONS ARKANSAS YOUNG GUNS
9 AA CHAMPIONS BRYANT HORNETS
11 AA CHAMPIONS PERFORMANCE FLYERS
13 AA CHAMPIONS RAWLINGS TIGERS
14 AA CHAMPIONS PATRIOTS BASEBALL
14 OPEN CHAMPIONS ARKANSAS DIRTBAGS
2021 BASEBALL TEAMS ENTERED BENTON’S OWN PEYTON PALLETTE CTS SPORTS GOLD/SILVER RING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP EVERETT TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS:
2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS • 5
6/7 AA Coach Pitch
11 AA
AV RIPPERZ TEXARKANA AMERICANS BRYANT 5 BRYANT 6 BENTON 5 BENTON 6
THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY BRYANT BLACK SOX WARRIORS
8AA Coach Pitch
AV LEGENDS RAWLINGS PROSPECTS MENARD TEXAS JAGUARS ARKANSAS LAND SHARKS DIAMOND HOGZ STICKS RED STICKS BASEBALL 2028 RAWLINGS PROSPECTS HENRY
HITSTIX LEGENDS MAX IMPACT BRYANT BLACK SOX 7 BENTON PANTHERS
9AA
HITSTIX LEGENDS THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY AV VENOM 9U BRYANT BLACK SOX ORENDER BRYANT BLACK SOX 9U MAX IMPACT REGULATORS ARKANSAS ACES CONWAY ELITE STICKS 9U-SCHILLING
10 AA
RAWLINGS PROSPECTS ALVETI AV ELITE 10U LOWER ARKANSAS EXPRESS LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES LA BANDITS
11 Open
12 AA
THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY 2 AV REVOLUTION 12U 3 LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES BRYANT BLACK SOX MAX IMPACT PRFORMANCE FLYERS TEAM WARSTIC BENTON MUSTANGS
12 Open
FIELDHOUSE THUNDER RAWLINGS PROSPECTS STRICKLIN BRYANT BLACK SOX PROSPECTS RAWLINGS PROSPECTS WILLIAMS SOUTHERN TORQUE
13 AA
THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY 2 AV BULLDOGS 13U LAKE HAMILTON WOLVES BRYANT BLACK SOX RAWLINGS PROSPECTS BUMPERS MAX IMPACT KNIGHT MAX IMPACT BILLINGSLEY FIELDHOUSE ACES MORRILTON DEVIL DOGS ROCKTOWN HILLSIDE GRIT BASEBALL
13 Open
PROFROMANCE VELOCITY PROFORMANCE STICKS 2026 FIELDHOUSE SOX THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY1 MAX IMPACT STICKS-CARPENTER
14 AA
THE SPARTAN BASEBALL ACADEMY MAX IMPACT SALINE COUNTY VIPERS RAWLINGS TIGERS HAMPTON
14 Open
RAWLINGS PROSPECTS TROUT BRYANT BLACK SOX STICKS BASEBALL 14U HALTER
Teams entered after May 6 will not be listed.
6 • 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Jacksonville 1929 West Main Jacksonville, AR 72076 501-982-5161
jacksonville@discountautoglass.net
Bryant 1810 North Reynolds Bryant, AR 72022 501-847-7777
bryant@discountautoglass.net
Fort Smith 7216 HWY 271 S. Fort Smith, AR 72908 479-974-1400
fortsmith@discountautoglass.net
Springdale 1324 West Sunset Springdale, AR 72762 479-340-0214
springdale@discountautoglass.net
Conway 1520 Hwy 64 West Conway, AR 72032 501-513-6900
conway@discountautoglass.net
North Little Rock 4119 Richards Road #111 North Little Rock, AR 72117 501-955-2428 btalley@discountautoglass.net
Joplin 721 North Schifferdecker Joplin, MO 64801 417-553-9800
joplin@discountautoglass.net
Pine Bluff 2512 S Olive Pine Bluff, AR 71601 870-850-6600
pinebluff@discountautoglass.net
Texarkana 221 East 7th Street Texarkana, AR 71854 870-774-1320
texarkana@discountautoglass.net
Memphis 2405 Summer Ave Memphis TN 38112 901-454-9534
memphis@discountautoglass.net
Jonesboro 608 Gladiolu Jonesboro AR 72401 870-336-2822
jonesboro@discountautoglass.net
Benton’s Own
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS PITCHER GREW UP IN THE WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS By Casey L. Penn
He’s number 36 for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but when it comes to representing his hometown, former Benton All-Stars player Peyton Pallette is number one in the hearts of Benton residents and baseball enthusiasts.
Peyton has always had a great arm, but to imagine at the age of 19, he would be in the pitching rotation for the top ranked Razorbacks and throwing in the mid nineties is amazing.”
PALLETTE’S BASEBALL CAREER STARTED SHORTLY AFTER HE MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY TO BENTON AT THE AGE OF TWO.
Wally Hall Tournament of Champions director Shane Pigue is pleased to shine a light on the 2019 graduate. “We’re so glad to see another Benton kid grow up and advance to the Razorbacks,” said Pigue, who coached a young Pallette. “He’s an inspiration to all of us as we kick off the 2021 Wally Hall Tournament of Champions.”
An Early Start
and it’s a big deal to win the ‘Wally Hall,’” said Peyton. “Winning our division … that’s a fun memory!”
It was easy to see early on that Peyton was destined for big things,” Pigue said. “One of my best memories of coaching Peyton was in the 9 year old Cal Ripken Southwest Regional Championship game. Pallette took the mound and turned in a dominating performance striking out 13 in a shutout win for the Benton All stars!
Pallette’s baseball career started shortly after he moved with his family to Benton at the age of two. Already an athlete, he had a baseball in hand by the time he was three. Doug Pallette, Peyton’s father, explains, “Typically, they don’t start until age four, but somehow, I got talked into coaching and getting him on a team when he was three. He grew from there, playing several years for Bernard Holland Park.” As Peyton grew, so did his talent and potential. The same year as the Cal Ripken Championship, Peyton’s team won its division in the Wally Hall TOC. “There were teams that came from all over Arkansas,
8 • 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
From his freshman through senior years, Peyton played for Benton High School. A highlight, according to Doug, was watching his son get to play in the state championship games two years in a row. “In his junior and senior years, they went back-to-back in the state championship, held at Baum-Walker Stadium,” said Doug. “They came up short in both of those games, but it was a great experience for him and all the boys on that team.” From Benton to Fayetteville In May of his junior year, Peyton was invited to participate in a showcase
The University of Arkansas was among those calling, but they were also in the middle of trying to get to the college world series. With that going on, they set up a later day for the pitching coach to come down and watch Peyton throw a bull-pen. After that, the feedback was that they liked what they saw, but they wanted to see him pitch in a live game.”
featuring the summer team he was part of, Arkansas Sticks. It was a pivotal day for him. “It was a Sunday, so there were a few colleges at that showcase to evaluate some of the kids,” recalls Doug. “That showcase put him on the map. He wasn’t heavily recruited in high school, and he didn’t pitch a lot in high school until he was a senior. But he did pitch in that showcase, and that raised some eyebrows because he hadn’t been on the radar before. He’s always had a pretty good arm, but he really stood out as a pitcher at that showcase.” By Tuesday or Wednesday of that same week, Peyton’s phone began ringing. “It was nonstop from colleges trying to get in touch with him,” said Doug. “The University of Arkansas was among those calling, but they were also in the middle of trying to get to the college world series. With that going on, they set up a later day for the pitching coach to come down and watch Peyton throw a bull-pen. 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS • 9
AS PEYTON GREW, SO DID HIS TALENT AND POTENTIAL. THE SAME YEAR AS THE CAL RIPKEN CHAMPIONSHIP, PEYTON’S TEAM WON ITS DIVISION IN THE WALLY HALL TOC. After that, the feedback was that they liked what they saw, but they wanted to see him pitch in a live game.” The U of A and several other schools got the chance to see Peyton in action soon after when he went to Atlanta into a perfect-game series to pitch for The Sticks. “That game stands out in my memory,” said
Doug. “I looked behind home plate while he was pitching, and I saw a lot of the Arkansas-based schools. You had University of Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas State University, and the University of Arkansas Fayetteville – all there watching him. “After the game, Peyton and his mom and I got in the car to head back to Arkansas, and he got a text from the Arkansas coach asking him to come play for the Razorbacks. This was probably the middle of June, and by that time, the University of Arkansas had made the college world series. So, just after that series, we were sitting in Coach Van Horn’s office and Peyton was committing to play.” Playing It Safe – A Mature Decision Commitment brought with it sacrifices. For instance, Peyton’s father recalls his son’s maturity in choosing baseball over football, another sport he loved. “Peyton was always an athlete growing up,” explained Doug. “He liked
10 • 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
playing basketball, and he liked playing football. He played football for Benton High School up until his senior year, but after committing to the Razorbacks, he decided not to play football during his senior year.” It was a hard decision for Peyton, who loved representing Benton on both teams. “When he got to high school, I think he was most proud of getting to put on the Panther uniform,” said Doug. “He decided not to play, mainly, to avoid any kind of injury. That was probably the right decision for Peyton because he wasn’t always the biggest and strongest kid – he was still growing and filling out.” Landing on Pitch Peyton didn’t always know he would be a pitcher. As he was growing up, he played several other positions, too. Pigue recalls first thinking young Peyton might end up an infielder. “Peyton has always been able to throw the ball hard,” he said, “but I could never have imagined that he would be throwing the ball in the upper 90s.”
At the college level, most players typically focus either on pitching or on another position. “When he was growing up, he was always in that situation of needing to decide what position he wants to play at the college level,” explained Doug. “For Peyton, it was hard at first to decide what he wanted to do, but when he started being recruited as a pitcher, that’s when he turned his focus on becoming the best at pitching. Up to that point, he was just an all-around baseball player.” Today, Peyton Pallette has worked into a starting pitcher role for the Razorbacks. “That’s a big deal at the level he’s playing at – he’s considered a second-year freshman (due to COVID-19 changes),” said Doug. “This year coming out, he pitched well against the Texas Longhorns in his first starting game, and that kind of put his name on the map nationally.”
PEYTON DIDN’T ALWAYS KNOW HE WOULD BE A PITCHER. AS HE WAS GROWING UP, HE PLAYED SEVERAL OTHER POSITIONS, TOO. For Peyton and other participants, playing in a large tournament like the Wally Hall TOC is a characterbuilding experience – and a great memory to look back on. “Having that to work toward during the baseball season is something I looked forward to each year as the season started,” confirmed Peyton. “Getting to play baseball with friends, wear a Benton Panthers uniform and represent my hometown, and compete against good teams in the TOC … those are things I cherished,” said Peyton. “Benton has given me sweet memories that I get to carry with me for the rest of my life.”
2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS • 11
STATE
12AAA/Jonesboro 13AAA/Jonesboro 14AAA/Conway
TO REGISTER GO TO www.completeteamsports.com
or contact Daniel at 501-472-0865, Daniel.mcbay@usssa.com 14 • 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
CT Sports is dedicated to being your tournament destination. CT Sports host all 3 Everett Legs of TOC and supports the Everett Wally Hall TOC. Every year these events continue to grow with previous and new Champions being crowned.
2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS • 15
Everett Triple Crown
16 • 2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Everett Triple Crown
2021 WALLY HALL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS • 17