Arkansas Tech University is the Team of the Year. The Wonder Boys made their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and served as the hosts of the Central Region. They set a program high for national ranking, climbing as high as 3rd in the country. They won a school record 22 consecutive games and finished the season with a 44-12 record, 25-5 in the Great American Conference.
Arkansas Tech's head coach, Dave Dawson, is named the Coach of the Year. Dawson was named the NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year by the NCBWA and earned GAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Wonder Boys to arguably their best season in school history. Dawson was also named the All-Arkansas Coach of the Year in 2010 in his first year at Tech. He is 169-98 in five seasons at ATU.
The Player of the Year is Southern Arkansas senior Tyler Cameron. He is the second straight Mulerider shortstop to be named the All-Arkansas Player of the Year, after David Harris won in 2013. Cameron started all 58 games at shortstop for the Muleriders. He hit .338 with 21 extra base hits, including 8 home runs, and drove in 50. He also had 14 stolen bases.
Davis Ward, of Ouachita Baptist, and Dylan Lynn of Southern Arkansas have been named Co-Pitchers of the Year. Ward was 10-4 with a 2.60 ERA, 7 complete games and 87 strikeouts for the Tigers. He was named the 2014 Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year and was named a finalist for the Brett Tomko Award, given to the D2 Pitcher of the Year. Lynn was 11-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 3 complete games and 86 strikeouts for the Muleriders, earning First Team All-Great American Conference honors.
Trevor Rucker of Southern Arkansas is the Freshman of the Year. The Mulerider outfielder hit .342 with 14 doubles, 7 home runs and 51 runs driven in. He was also one of eight finalists for the Josh Willingham Award, presented to D2's most valuable college baseball player. He was the GAC Freshman of the Year and a conference player of the week multiple times in 2014.
The Natural, awarded to the best Arkansan playing collegiate baseball in Arkansas, goes to Ouachita Baptist's Davis Ward. Ward, from Little Rock, also won the award in 2013.
All-Arkansas Team
Catcher – Patrick Castleberry, ATU (.303, 17 doubles, 6 HR, 37 RBI)
First – Welch, ABC (.371, 12 doubles, 3 HR, 52 RBI)
Second – Ben Agredano, UAM (.384, 16 doubles, 4 HR, 50 RBI)
Third – Doug Votolato, UCA (.379, 10 doubles, 24 RBI, 26 stolen bases)
Shortstop – Tyler Cameron SAU (.338, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 14 stolen bases)
Left Field – Joe Campbell, Lyon (.438, 10 doubles, 35 RBI, 11 stolen bases)
Center Field – Collin Radack, Hendrix (.401, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 34 stolen bases)
Right Field – Trevor Rucker, SAU (.342, 15 doubles, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 35 stolen bases)
Designated Hitter – Brian Anderson, UA (.328, 14 doubles, 7 HR, 51 RBI)
Starting Pitcher – Davis Ward, OBU (10-4, 2.60 ERA, 7 CG, 87 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Dylan Lynn, SAU (11-1, 2.97 ERA, 3 CG, 86 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Chris Oliver, UA (9-4, 2.51 ERA, 59 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Randy Vallejo, ATU (2.43 ERA, 18 saves)
Relief Pitcher – Jeff Harvill, UAM (2-2, 2.60 ERA, 10 saves)
Pitcher – Collin Campbell, Harding (9-2, 2.43 ERA, 3 CG, 52 strikeouts)
Pitcher – Michael Gunn, UA (4-2, 0.74 ERA, 7 saves)
Player of the Year – Tyler Cameron, SAU
Co-Pitchers of the Year – Davis Ward, OBU & Dylan Lynn, SAU
Freshman of the Year – Trevor Rucker, SAU
The Natural (Arkansan of the Year) – Davis Ward, OBU
Coach of the Year – Dave Dawson, ATU
Team of the Year – Arkansas Tech University Wonder Boys
Honorable mention: Isias Alcantar (UAPB), Chase Sealy (ABC), Mike Kattula (ATU), Sage Boehner (ATU), Kris Ayers (ATU), Trent Armstrong (ATU), Ethan Crocker (ATU), Matt Calhoun (Harding), Justin Mosbey (Hendrix), Nathan Kane (North Ark), Keegan Ghidotti (OBU), Parker Norris (OBU), Kendall Fay (WBC), Preston Gray (SAU), Jon Phillips (SAU), Carver Rademacher (SAU), Ben Crumpton (UALR), Tanner Rockwell (UALR), Matt Burgess (ASU), Eckersley Villasmil (Eclesia), Brady Brashier (CBC), Connor Gilmore (UCA), Bryce Biggerstaff (UCA), Jalen Beeks (UA), Trey Killian (UA), Jacob Stone (UA)
No comments:
Post a Comment