Baldwin set for All-Star appearance

Former Mohawk standout Daniel Baldwin is shown in action last fall against the Hoxie Mustangs. Baldwin will play this Friday night in the annual AAA All-Star game at Bentonville. (Times file photo) [Click to enlarge]

Friday night Piggott Mohawk star athlete Daniel Baldwin will play in the final game of his high school career as he takes part in the annual Arkansas Activities Association All-Star football game at Bentonville High School.

Baldwin, an outstanding multi-sport star, will play in the annual game as the outstanding back from 3A-3 for the East squad. He'll be joined on the squad by Jake McDonald of Corning, the outstanding lineman from the district and the only other player chosen from Clay County. Coaching the East team is Ellis Register, of Catholic High School and his assistants include-- Randy Coleman, Jonesboro High School, David Estes, Catholic High School, Tim Harper, Des Arc High School, Jeff Jones, Lonoke High School, Greg Smith, Prescott High School and Russell Smith, Central High School Helena.

Daniel, and the remainder of the East squad, will take on the West All-Stars which are coached by Doug Loughridge of Charleston High School.

Following the ballgame, and a week off at home, Baldwin will return to Northwest Arkansas to begin summer session classes at the University of Arkansas. This fall he will be a preferred walk-on to the Razorback football team and will be looking to earn himself a spot on the roster.

The All-Star game this year is being played at Bentonville's Tiger Stadium, arguably one of the nicest high school facilities in the state of Arkansas. Usually the game is played in Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus, but that field is currently getting a new synthetic playing surface and won't be available for use until August.

Tiger stadium features seating for around 6,000 fans, with 3,500 seats on the home side of the field. According to the Arkansas Activities Association the annual football game, which is the final event of All-Star week, draws an average of around 3,000 spectators but some officials have noted that the number could be much higher.

Prior to being moved to Fayetteville seven years ago, the annual All-Star games had been played in either Little Rock or Conway since the tradition began in 1956.

For most of the players it will mean a missed opportunity to play on the Hog's home field, as for Baldwin he's just hopeful that it's only a delay.