Conway Baseball Primed for Another Successful Season

Bears return experienced roster, look to defend conference title

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Conway head coach Clay Bilyeu enters his 19th season leading the Bears, who boast a deep and talented roster featuring a strong junior class and promising freshman group. The Bears will look to replace some key graduated players, but Bilyeu is confident his squad will be "athletic and deep at every position." Conway returns several experienced pitchers, led by Cole Twyman, Easton Jones, and Gentry Bilyeu, and will also feature newcomers like Eli Blumer and Griffin Cornelison on the mound. The Bears open the season on March 20 at Waynesville as they aim to defend their Summit Conference title.

Why it matters

Conway baseball has been a consistent powerhouse in the region, and this year's team looks primed to continue that tradition. The Bears' ability to reload with talented underclassmen is a testament to the program's strength and stability under longtime coach Clay Bilyeu. As the defending conference champions, Conway will face high expectations, but their depth and experience should make them a formidable opponent in the Summit Conference race.

The details

Coach Bilyeu is looking for new leaders to emerge after graduating some key players from last year's 23-5 team. The Bears return experienced players like junior catcher Wyatt Lewis, junior infielders Easton Jones and Cole Twyman, and senior Gentry Bilyeu, who will contribute both on the mound and in the field. Newcomers like freshman Cannon Massey and Koy Stokes are also expected to make an impact. On the pitching staff, Twyman, Jones, and Gentry Bilyeu will anchor the rotation, while Griffin Cornelison, Payton Whitford, and Eli Blumer will also see significant innings.

  • Conway opens the season on March 20 at Waynesville.
  • The Bears are the defending Summit Conference champions.

The players

Clay Bilyeu

Conway's head coach, entering his 19th season leading the Bears with an overall record of 535-246.

Wyatt Lewis

Junior catcher for the Bears.

Cole Twyman

Junior right-handed pitcher and shortstop for Conway, known for his high-velocity fastball and sharp slider.

Easton Jones

Junior infielder and pitcher for the Bears, a key contributor on both offense and defense.

Gentry Bilyeu

Senior pitcher and infielder/designated hitter for Conway, a veteran presence on the team.

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What they’re saying

“We will be one of the deepest teams I have had. We have a very talented junior class who all have quite a bit of varsity experience. We also have a very talented freshman class which is capable of coming in and contributing right away. We are going to be athletic and deep at every position.”

— Clay Bilyeu, Head Coach (ozarkssportszone.com)

“Our conference is tough, but we are defending conference champs, and I think we are capable of defending that title. I just feel like we should be very competitive every night and want to see us bring that competitive fire and focus all season.”

— Clay Bilyeu, Head Coach (ozarkssportszone.com)

What’s next

The Bears will look to defend their Summit Conference title when the season opens on March 20 at Waynesville.

The takeaway

Conway baseball has established itself as a consistent powerhouse in the region, and this year's team appears poised to continue that tradition. The Bears' ability to reload with talented underclassmen and maintain a deep, experienced roster is a testament to the program's strength and stability under longtime coach Clay Bilyeu.