2016 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team

Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2016 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards.

The University of Arkansas-Monticello was the team of the year. The Boll Weevils were 40-16 in 2016, after going just 17-20 in 2015. UAM won their first ever GAC Championship, their first conference championship since 1993 and the sixth overall in school history. The season ended in the Finals of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament. The 40 wins were a school record.

Monticello’s sixth-year head coach John Harvey is the Natural State Baseball Coach of the Year. In addition to leading the Boll Weevils to their first-ever 40 win season, Harvey ends the season tied for the all-time coaching record at UAM, with 160 wins. Before coming to UAM, Harvey coached Henderson State, where he also set school records for wins.

The Player of the Year is Monticello’s Corey Wood. The senior outfielder broke UAM single-season records in runs scored (67), home runs (26), RBI (90), total bases (183) and slugging percentage (.847). Wood was the Great American Conference’s Player of the Year, MVP of the GAC Tournament, and the MVP of the Central Regional. His 26 home runs and 90 RBIs led the state of Arkansas.

Brian Moreno of Central Baptist College is the Pitcher of the Year. Moreno was 11-2 on the year with a 2.74 ERA. He started 16 games and struck out 116 batters, with just 33 walks. His 11 wins tied him for the lead in the state, and his 116 strike outs were the best in Arkansas. Moreno was named to the AMC All-Conference team, and helped lead the Mustangs to a 45-16 record, the school’s first 40-win season.

The Freshman of the Year is Mark Rucker of North Arkansas College. Rucker was 8-4 with a 2.70 ERA. He struck out 114 in 73 1/3 innings and threw two complete games.

The Natural, which is awarded to the top player from the state of Arkansas, goes to UALR’s Ryan Scott. The senior outfielder from North Little Rock was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Gregg Olson Award, and was on the Midseason Watch List for the Golden Spikes Award. He hit .435 this season with 20 doubles, 12 home runs, and 66 RBI.

All-Arkansas Team

Catcher – J.T. Stalnaker, EC (.385, 16 doubles, 7 HR, 55 RBI)
First – Billy Germaine, SAU (.302, 12 doubles, 18 HR, 48 RBI)
Second – Jalin Lawson, CBC (.414, 21 doubles, 23 HR, 65 RBI)
Third – Brett Luna, NorthArk (.469, 18 doubles, 6 HR, 50 RBI)
Shortstop – Tanner Ring, ASU (.304, 16 doubles, 8 HR, 46 RBI)
Left Field – Ryan Scott, UALR (.435, 20 doubles, 12 HR, 66 RBI)
Center Field – Zac Stewart, Harding (.373, 15 doubles, 8 triples, 7 HR)
Right Field – Corey Wood, UAM (.375, 20 doubles, 26 HR, 90 RBI)
Designated Hitter – Dalton Thomas, UALR (.375, 19 doubles, 9 HR, 52 RBI)

Starting Pitcher – Brian Moreno, CBC (11-2, 2.74 ERA, 116 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Mark Rucker, NorthArk (8-4, 2.70 ERA, 114 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Braden Chambers, UAM (11-1, 3.41 ERA, 4 complete games)
Relief Pitcher – Dawson Moser, UAM (2-2, 1.88 ERA, 9 saves)
Relief Pitcher – Jared Fielden, SAU (4-1, 1.83 ERA, 7 saves)
Pitcher – Tyler Tognarine, Lyon (11-3, 3.07 ERA, 3 shutouts)
Pitcher – Tyler Gray, UCA (6-1, 3.34 ERA, 63 strikeouts)

Player of the Year – Corey Wood, UAM
Pitcher of the Year – Brian Moreno, CBC
Freshman of the Year – Mark Rucker, NorthArk
The Natural – Ryan Scott, UALR
Coach of the Year – John Harvey, UAM
Team of the Year – Arkansas-Monticello

Honorable Mention:

Landen Colson, Arkansas Baptist

Tomas Gonzales, Arkansas Baptist

Jesse Harbin, Arkansas Tech

Josh Watkins, Arkansas Tech

Zach Skelton, Arkansas Tech

Cody Davenport, Central Arkansas

Derek Beier, Central Arkansas

Blaise Warrick, UAFS

Kasey Cooper, UAFS

Josh Vanderpool, UAFS

Seth Mclemore, Central Baptist College

Matt Garrison, Ecclesia College

Reed Roberts, Harding

Nick Vanthillo, Henderson State

Tadarious Hawkins, Henderson State

Will Nichol, Hendrix

Baker Wilson, North Arkansas

Zach McKnight, UAM

Connor Eller, OBU

Skyler Henson, UAPB

Trevor Rucker, SAU

Hunter Mayo, SAU

Eric Kent, WBC

Ryan Shelton, WBC