2011 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team

Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2011 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards. Harding University is the Arkansas Team of the Year. The Bisons were 42-14 in 2011, the best record in program history. They improved from 25-24 a season ago and went from 5^th to 1^st in the Gulf South Conference. Harding head coach Dr. Patrick McGaha is the Coach of the Year. McGaha has coached the Bisons to three 30-win seasons. Prior to Harding, McGaha coached at the College of the Ozarks and led the Bobcats to a school-record 37 wins and the school's first NAIA tournament appearance in 2005, along with a Midlands Conference Championship.

Matt Johnson from Arkansas Tech is the Player of the Year and DJ Baxendale from the University of Arkansas is the Pitcher of the Year.

Johnson, a senior centerfielder for the Wonderboys, was named the Gulf South Conference West Player of the Year and finished 3^rd in the voting for the Tino Martinez Award, which is given to the best division 2 player in the country. He hit .454 on the season with 35 extra base hits, including 9 home runs, and 50 RBI. He also stole 37 bases.

Baxendale, a sophomore pitcher for the Razorbacks was All-SEC 2^nd team and was a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the best college player in the country. He was 10-2 in 2011, with a 1.58 ERA. He had 3 saves and 77 strikeouts in 85.1 innings. He will be a member of Team USA this summer.

Baxendale, a native of Jacksonville, was also named the winner of the Natural Award, which is given to the best player from the state of Arkansas. Baxendale was also a member of the 2010 All-Arkansas Team.

The Freshman of the Year is Lester Clark, catcher for North Arkansas College. Clark batted .527 on the season, with 24 doubles, 13 home runs and 74 RBI. He also stole 9 bases.

All-Arkansas Team

Catcher – Lester Clark, North Ark (.527, 24 doubles, 13 HR, 74 RBI)
First – Brock Green, OBU (.381, 21 doubles, 39 RBI)
Second – Chase Presley, Harding (.335, 22 doubles, 4 HR, 38 RBI)
Third – Jason Nappi, Harding (.384, 9 HR, 54 RBI)
Shortstop – Cesar Abreu, ABC (.459, 44 stolen bases)
Left Field – Madison Beaird, ATU (.341, 14 doubles, 41 RBI)
Center Field – Matt Johnson, ATU (.454, 22 doubles, 9 HR, 50 RBI)
Right Field – Todd Baumgartner, ASU (.340, 18 doubles, 48 RBI)
Designated Hitter – Kentrell Hill, ABU (.402, 11 doubles, 11 HR, 36 stolen bases)

Starting Pitcher – DJ Baxendale, UA (10-2, 1.58 ERA, 77 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Dan Bream, SAU (12-3, 2.49 ERA, 98 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Doug Shields, SAU (8-2, 2.35 ERA, 75 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Barrett Astin, UA (5-2, 2.75 ERA, 3 saves)
Relief Pitcher – Marc McRae, Harding (4-1, 1.35 ERA)
Pitcher – Trent Daniel, UA (2-0, 2.91 ERA, 4 saves)
Pitcher – Andy Ferguson, ASU (7-4, 3.57 ERA, 80 strikeouts)

Player of the Year – Matt Johnson, ATU
Pitcher of the Year – DJ Baxendale, UA
Freshman of the Year – Lester Clark, North Arkansas
The Natural (Arkansan of the Year) – DJ Baxendale, UA
Coach of the Year – Patrick McGaha, Harding
Team of the Year – Harding University Bisons

Honorable mention: Kolby Moore (OBU), Josh Wesson (Henderson), Logan Holthaus (Harding), Tyler Hardin (ABU), Davin Houser (North Ark), Ryan Nevels (North Ark), David Copeland (North Ark), Colby Suggs (UA), Nolan Sandburn (UA), Clark Sims (Hendrix), Collin Radack (Hendrix), Jordan May (UAFS), Wayne Hawkins (UAM), Nick Makris (ATU), Gip Hendrix (Henderson), Logan Williams (SAU), Trey Buck (SAU), Billy Ninemire (Harding), Jonathan Davis (UCA), Michael Long (ABU), Ryan Bridges (ABU), Clint Howard (North Ark), Patrick Phillips (North Ark), Dominic Ficociello (UA), James McCann (UA)