2015 All-Arkansas Team and Awards

Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2015 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards.

Henderson State University and the University of Arkansas are the teams of the year. The Reddies and the Razorbacks both reached the College World Series. Henderson State was 33-21 on the season and finished fourth in the GAC, but they advanced as the 6 seed in the St. Cloud Regional and on to the Division 2 College World Series. They won two CWS games and advanced to the national semifinals. The Razorbacks were 40-25 on the season and finished fifth in the SEC. They advanced as the 2 seed in the Stillwater Regional, and defeated nationally-seeded Missouri State in the Super Regional before advancing to Omaha.

Cody Hooten of Henderson State is the Natural State Coach of the Year. Hooten has improved Henderson State's record every year since he arrived in 2011, including a 16 win jump in 2015 and the Reddie's first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and the College World Series.

The Player of the Year is Andrew Benintendi of Arkansas. Benintendi, a sophomore, became the first player in Arkansas history with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Among the many honors he received this season were being named the SEC Player of the Year, Baseball America's National Player of the Year, and winner of the Dick Howser Trophy for national player of the year. Benintendi was drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Boston Red Sox.

The Pitcher of the Year, and the winner of the Natural Award, which is given to the best Arkansan playing college baseball in Arkansas, is Griffin Glaude of Lyon College. Glaude is also the first player to be named to the All-Arkansas team for offense and pitching. On the mound he was 8-1 with a 0.56 ERA. He threw five shutouts and struck out 116 in 80 2/3 innings. He also hit .404 with 13 doubles and drove in 46. Glaude is a junior from Beebe.

The Freshman of the Year is Tyler Tognarine, also from Lyon College. Tognarine was 9-0 in 2015 with a 3.17 ERA and 4 saves. He appeared in 21 games for the Scots and started eight. He threw two complete games and struck out 59 in 82 1/3 innings.

All-Arkansas Team

Catcher - Patrick Castleberry, ATU (.380, 18 doubles, 13 HR, 64 RBI)

First – Zach George, ASU (.399, 22 doubles, 3 HR, 52 BB)

Second – Griffin Glaude, Lyon (.404, 13 doubles, 46 RBI, 7-8 SB)

Third – Ryan Justus, UAFS (.335, 15 doubles, 9 HR, 41 RBI)

Shortstop – Derek Hurst, North Ark (.452, 15 doubles, 55 RBI, 11-11 SB)

Left Field – Billy Germaine, SAU (.338, 17 doubles, 12 HR, 66 RBI)

Center Field - Andrew Benintendi, UA (.376, 13 doubles, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 24-28 SB)

Right Field – Tyler Spoon, UA (.327, 20 doubles, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 10-12 SB)

Designated Hitter – Bryan Heward, ATU (.340, 11 doubles, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 10-13 SB)

Starting Pitcher – Griffin Glaude, Lyon (8-1, 0.56 ERA, 5 shutouts, 116 K)

Starting Pitcher – Landon Simpson, SAU (10-4, 2.66 ERA, 4 shutouts, 74 K)

Starting Pitcher – Marco Blanchard, ABC (7-5, 2.30 ERA, 110 K)

Relief Pitcher – Nick Vanthillo, HSU (6-1, 1.39 ERA, 14 saves)

Relief Pitcher – Zach Jackson, UA (5-1, 2.10 ERA, 9 saves, 89 K)

Pitcher – Connor Eller, OBU (8-2, 2.53 ERA, 3 shutouts, 70 K)

Pitcher – Tyler Tognarine, Lyon (9-0, 3.17 ERA, 4 saves)

Player of the Year – Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas

Pitcher of the Year – Griffin Glaude, Lyon

Freshman of the Year – Tyler Tognarine, Lyon

The Natural – Griffin Glaude, Lyon

Coach of the Year - Cody Hooten, Henderson State

Co-Teams of the Year – Henderson State, Arkansas

Honorable Mention: Harley Faye (Hendrix), Will Nichol (Hendrix), Ryan Ritz (Hendrix), Josh Vanderpool (UAFS), Justin Shealy (UAFS), Ryan Scott (UALR), Kevin Walsh (UAPB), Andre Davis (UAPB), Trent Armstrong (ATU), Cole Fergus (ATU), Kris Ayers (ATU), Colt Harmon (Lyon), Zac Stewart (Harding), Andrew Fiddler (Harding), Kraig Kelley (Lyon), J.F. Matros (OBU), Parker Norris (OBU), Justin Weigle (OBU), Hunter Mayo (SAU), Travis Johnson (SAU), Chris Quinn (SAU), Carver Rademacher (SAU), Trevor Rucker (SAU), Dontrell Brown (ABC), Shaquille Matta (ABC), Guy Halbert (ABC), Connor Gilmore (UCA), Wesley Hoover (UCA), Tyler Zuber (ASU), Alec Naifeh (Eclesia), Michael Sage (Eclesia), Jordan Taylor (HSU), Chris Hunt (HSU), Colton Lorance (HSU), Claude Johnson (HSU), Jordan Taylor (HSU), Lance Fields (HSU), Josh Buczek (CBC), Samuel Buczek (CBC), Nathan Kane (North Ark), Daniel Welborn (North Ark), Drew Fortson (North Ark), Keaton McKinney (UA), Jackson Lowrey (UA), Ryan Shelton (WBC)