2017 All-Arkansas Team

2017 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team

Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2017 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards.

The University of Arkansas was the 2017 Team of the Year. The Razorbacks went 45-19 this year, improving on a 26-29 season a year ago. After a solid showing in the SEC Tournament, including a no-hitter and two run-ruled shutouts, Arkansas hosted a regional in Fayetteville and advanced to the regional final.

Justin Pettigrew, first year coach of Southern Arkansas, is the 2017 Coach of the Year. Pettigrew has been with the Muleriders since 2005 and was promoted to head coach following the 2016 season. He led the Muleriders to a 39-16 record, including 28-5 in conference, a 9 game improvement on the previous season. The team advanced to the NCAA regional tournament.

Southern Arkansas’ Trevor Rucker is the 2017 Player of the Year and the winner of The Natural, which is awarded to the top player from the state of Arkansas. Rucker, a native of Prescott, batted .393 with 20 homeruns and 20 doubles, and stole 20 bases. Rucker was the Natural State Baseball Freshman of the Year in 2014.

Tyler Tognarine of Lyon is the 2017 Pitcher of the Year. He went 11-5 with a 1.99 ERA and picked up 4 saves. He had 92 strikeouts in 113.1 innings. Tognarine has previously been named to the Natural State Baseball All-Arkansas teams in 2016 and 2015, and was the Freshman of the Year in 2015.

The Freshman of the Year is Nick Kreutzer of Arkansas Baptist College. Kreutzer hit .404 on the season with 14 homeruns, 12 doubles, and 2 triples. He drove in 57 runs.





All-Arkansas Team
Catcher – JT Stalnaker, Ecclesia (.399, 7 homeruns, 18 doubles, 49 RBI)
First – Chad Spanberger, Arkansas (.305, 20 homeruns, 13 doubles, 67 RBI)
Second – Jalin Lawson, CBC (.392, 11 homeruns, 22 doubles, 20 SB, 50 RBI)
Third – Jacob Richardson, SAU (.364, 8 homeruns, 17 doubles, 46 RBI)
Shortstop – Dylan McDearmon, ATU (.353, 8 homeruns, 17 doubles)
Left Field – Dion Williams, UAFS (.351, 8 homeruns, 17 doubles, 11 triples)
Center Field – Drew Judson, Hendrix (.395, 11 doubles, 44 RBI, 10 SB)
Right Field – Trevor Rucker, SAU (.393, 20 homeruns, 20 doubles, 20 SB, 67 runs)
Designated Hitter – Nick Kreutzer, ABC (.404, 14 homeruns, 12 doubles, 57 RBI)
Starting Pitcher – Tyler Tognarine, Lyon (11-5, 1.99 ERA, 4 saves, 92 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Bryant Haralson, HSU (10-3, 2.16 ERA, 114 strikeouts, 13 walks)
Starting Pitcher – Trevor Stephan, Arkansas (6-3, 2.87 ERA, 120 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Blake Patterson, HSU (13 saves, 2.86 ERA, 44 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Makenzy Larsen, SAU (5-0, 0.66 ERA, 7 saves)
Pitcher – Kyle Wilson, ATU (8-1, 2.53 ERA, 93 strikeouts)
Pitcher – Tyler Zuber, ASU (6-1, 2.06 ERA, 6 saves, 80 strikeouts)

Player of the Year – Trevor Rucker, SAU
Pitcher of the Year – Tyler Tognarine, Lyon
Freshman of the Year – Nick Kreutzer, ABC
The Natural – Trevor Rucker, SAU
Coach of the Year – Justin Pettigrew, SAU
Team of the Year – University of Arkansas

Honorable mention:


Ryan Mallison, ABC
Landen Colson, ABC
Cutter McDonald, ABC
Larry Sims, ABC
Matt Cronin, Arkansas
Blaine Knight, Arkansas
Dominic Fletcher, Arkansas
Quentin Bowling, ATU
Zach Klockowski, ATU
Ben Madison, CBC
Noah Vandiver, CRC
Madison Bates, Ecclesia
Kyle West, Lyon
Will Lindsey, Lyon
Matthew Lillard, Hendrix
Alan Hall, HSU
Kyle Alexander, OBU
Justin Crider, Ozarks
Kenneth Tabor, SAU
Dalton Algiene, SAU
Cortland McPherson, SAU
Hayden Harvey, UAFS
Clayton Welchel, UAFS
Nick Yoning, UAFS
Cory Malcom, UALR
Braden Chambers, UAM
Dawson Moser, UAM
Hunter Strong, UCA
Nick Scott, WBC

Cam Smith, WBC

Lyon wins AMC Tournament

Monday afternoon will go down in the record books as one of the biggest wins in program history for the third-seeded Lyon College baseball team. The Scots held top-seeded Missouri Baptist to two runs and pulled out a 5-2 win to claim their first ever conference tournament championship. While the offense flourised, the pitching combination of Cole Jenkins (FR/Little Rock, Ark.), Trenton Coles (SR/Cave City, Ark.) (pictured below right) and Tyler Tognarine (JR/Cape Coral, Fla.) was the backbone to the Scots victory.

Kyle West (SO/Lewisville, Texas) had two hits and a team high three RBI, while Kylan Barnett (FR/West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Easton Moore (JR/Fort Worth, Texas) each scored two runs apiece. Barnett and Tyler Houston (SR/Cherry Valley, Ark.) also added two hits each for the team.

Jenkins who made his 10^th start of the season held the Spartans to just one run over 4.1 innings pitched, while Coles threw 2.2 innings and allowed the remaining run. Tognarine came in for relief of Coles and threw two innings, while escaping a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning.

Lyon is now 34-22 overall, while Missouri Baptist falls to 41-14 on the season. Both teams have qualified for the National Tournament, which will take place on May 15-18 at various opening round sites.

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AMC Awards Announced

Lyon College had the Pitcher of the Year and Freshman Pitcher of the Year in Tyler Tognarine and Reese Chovanec, respectively; Ben Madison of Central Baptist College was named the Newcomer Pitcher of the Year.


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Full List - http://www.amcsportsonline.com/awards/0/8.php

Tognarine named AMC Pitcher of the Week

Lyon College baseball player Tyler Tognarine (JR/Cape Coral, Fla.) has been named the American Midwest Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday. This is Tognarine's first player of the week honor of the season, and fourth of his career after earning the honor three times last season.

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2 from Lyon named to NAIA Gold-Glove Team

Lyon College baseball teammates Easton Moore (SO/Fort Worth, Texas) and Tyler Tognarine (SO/Cape Coral, Fla.) have been named to the 2016 Rawlings-NAIA Baseball Gold Glove Team, the national office announced on Tuesday.

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Mustangs win AMC Tournament, dominate post season awards

The No. 1 seeded Missouri Baptist worked its way back into the championship game after falling to Central Baptist (Ark.), but they couldn't turn the tables against the hot offense of CBC as the Arkansas crew took home the AMC Tournament title.

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AMC Post-Season Awards list

Tyler Tognarine and Jalin Lawson pick up AMC Weekly Awards

Flashback to February 15: Tyler Tognarine had thrown his first no-hitter and Jalin Lawson was hitting .450 after mashing a pair of doubles and home runs. The Arkansas duo were named American Midwest Conference (AMC) Baseball Pitcher and Player of the Week and here we are again as Tognarine and Lawson have stepped and taken care of business for a second time.
Tognarine and the Lyon College Scots had a big weekend as they were set to host #9 Missouri Baptist at home in the AMC Game of the Week. The Scots came out on top in the first two games as the Spartans unleashed their anger in game three.
Tognarine played a role in both of the first two games off the mound. He made an appearance in the top of the ninth to shut down the Spartans and secure the 9-7 win to start the series, earning his first save of the season.
The next day in game two, the Cape Coral, Fla., native took the mound and threw a complete game two-hitter while allowing only one run. The sophomore struck out eight and handed out five walks en route to earning his seventh win of the year 2-1.
Tognarine posted a 1.13 ERA on the week after throwing eight innings with the lone earned run. That brings his season ERA down to 3.13. Opponents are also only hitting a measly .208 off the right-hander. Tognarine also sits 16th in the NAIA with his seven wins and 15th for his 72 total innings pitched.
This is Tognarine's third AMC Pitcher of the Week award for 2016.
Lawson has been having himself quite a week as well. The Mustang second baseman went 7-for-10 (.700) and slugged 1.800 on the week.
Central Baptist (Ark.) started off their week with a 7-6 loss to NCAA Division II Harding University. In that game, Lawson went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk.
CBC would recoup and set their focus on AMC-opponent Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) for the weekend series. The Mustangs came out strong and swept the Hornets in three games 11-1, 9-0 and 10-0.
Lawson was only kept off base in one plate appeareance all weekend as he went 5-for-6 with five walks, four RBIs, two doubles, six runs scored and one home run against HSSU.
On the week, the Trol, Ala., native scored nine runs on two doubles and three home runs. He also drive in six and had six walks. Lawson currently leads the NAIA with his 19 home runs and .943 slugging percentage. He is third in the country for his 55 RBIs and ninth with his 1.35 runs scored per game.
Lawson's dominance hasn't slowed down yet, earning him his second AMC Player of the Week award for 2016.

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Joseph Sitzman named AMC Player of the Week

Meanwhile, Sitzman and the Scots have been bouncing back from a rough start to the season by posting a 3-1 week and sweeping their AMC series against Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU).

The senior first-baseman had a tremendous week by hitting 8-14 (.571) and scoring four runs with 10 RBIs and one home run.

Sitzman had his career day in the final game against HSSU by going 4-5 with two runs, two doubles and four RBIs.

On the week, he averaged two hits and over two RBIs per game. The native of Lewisville, Texas, slugged 1.071 and recorded a hit in every game.

For the season, Sitzman is posting a .250 batting average, but has seven doubles and 21 RBIs which ranks him third in the AMC. He has also already surpassed the total doubles he had in his junior and senior year combined.

This is Sitzman's first AMC Player of the week award for 2016.

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Tyler Tognarine named AMC Pitcher of the Week

Tognarine had another stunning week on the mount as as the Scots opened up AMC play against Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU).

The hurler from Florida has already made his presence known with a 3.62 ERA after 32 innings pitched, but what he did against HLGU certainly helped him out.
Tognarine tossed a one-hit shutout in seven innings of work. The single hit for HLGU came in the seventh inning.

Currently Tognarine is second in the AMC with just 6.4 hits allowed per game, and he is tied for sixth with 21 strikeouts this season.

He has followed up his no-hitter earlier this season with more excellent performance as he's kept hitters to just a .192 batting average against him.

Tognarine currently holds a 2-2 record on the season, and he now takes home his second AMC Pitcher of the Week award for 2016.

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AMC Players of the Week

Tyler Tognarine got his year started on a high-note while Jalin Lawson smashed his way into Central Baptist College's first AMC Weekly award.

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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)

2015 American Midwest Conference Baseball All-Conference Team

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Griffin Glaude, Lyon College
FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Braxton Rhodes, Williams Baptist College
FRESHMAN PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Tyler Tognarine, Lyon College

FIRST-TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
Utility Infielder: Griffin Glaude, Lyon College
Pitcher: BGriffin Glaude, Lyon College

GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Left Field: Braxton Rhodes, Williams Baptist College

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
Lyon: Isaac Struense, Joseph Sitzman, Dylan Wooten, Joe Campbell, Colt Harmon, Kris Kohlstedt, Tyler Tognarine, Kraig Kelley
Williams Baptist: Tucker Smith, Braxton Rhodes, Ryan Shelton


Full list

Kraig Kelley named AMC Pitcher of the Week

Lyon College senior pitcher Kraig Kelley (SR/Batesville, Ark.) became the fifth Lyon College winner of the American Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week honor in 2015 for his relief performances at the end of the regular season and in a starting role in the beginning of the conference tournament.

The first performance came in the regular season finale against Harris-Stowe State University, when he shut down the Hornets in the final inning, not allowing a hit as Lyon wrapped up the No. 2-seed in the AMC tourney with an 8-3 win.

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Griffin Glaude named American Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week

For the third time this season, Lyon College pitcher Griffin Glaude has earned the American Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week honor. After receiving the award on March 17 and 30, the senior righthander from Beebe, Arkansas, was honored on Monday when was cited by the league for this play in games between April 6-12.

Glaude was also named NAIA National Pitcher of the Week on March 31, for his play on the week of March 23-29.

Glaude had another strong effort on the mound in his only appearance this past week. He pitched his fourth complete game of the season and recorded his third shutout in a 2-0 win over Lindenwood University-Belleville on Friday. He struck out 11 batters (his second-highest single-game total in his career), walking just two, as he improved his record to 5-1. He also has one save to his credit this season.

His performance allowed him to lower his conference and team-best ERA to 0.38.

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Griffin Glaude named AMC Pitcher of the Week

Griffin Glaude had a pair of strong outings during the week, recording a win and a save, as he lowered his ERA to 0.43. He picked up the save against Evangel University, pitching two shutout innings. He gave up two hits, while striking out two.

His best outing of the season came in the form of a complete-game shutout over WWU on the road Sunday, scattering five hits while fanning a career-high 13 batters in a 3-0 Lyon victory.

Glaude currently ranks 5th nationally in batters struck out per nine innings (13.29), 5th in total earned runs allowed (1), 6th in ERA and 11th in total runs allowed (2).

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2014 AMC Baseball All-Conference Teams

The American Midwest Conference announced its 2014 Baseball All-Conference teams, including 17 First-Team All-Conference honorees, nine Gold Glove award winners, specialty awards, and honorable-mention all-conference award winners.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Pitcher: Ben Neyen, Lyon
Utility: Griffin Glaude, Lyon
Outfield: Joe Campbell, Lyon

HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE
LYON | Will Roberson, Mark Armenteros, Kris Kohlstedt, Colt Harmon, Talan Roepcke, Branden Camp, Justin Braswell
WILLIAMS BAPTIST | Blake Coffman, Seth Hart, Kendall Fay

GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Shortstop: Griffin Glaude, Lyon
Left Field: Joe Campbell, Lyon

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TranSouth Season Honors

Second Team All-Conference

Outfield - Henry Castaigne, Lyon College 

Starting Pitcher - Talan Roepcke, Lyon College

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3 Scots pick up TranSouth honors

Second Team All-Conference

Catcher: Kyle Kallsnick, Lyon College

Outfield: Michael Armenteros, Lyon College

Starting Pitcher: Josh McNatt, Lyon College

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TranSouth Post-Season Honors

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Catcher - Kyle Kallsnick, Lyon
Third Base - Aaron Thornton, Lyon
Extra Fielder/Utility - Kody Pinson, Lyon
Outfield - Zach Wallace, Lyon
Outfield - Evan Segler, Lyon
Starting Pitcher - Nick Salahub, Lyon

RAWLINGS GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Pitcher - Nick Salahub, Lyon

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NAIA Conference Ratings

American Midwest Conference
1. William Woods University (Mo.) (4-0 / 17-8)
2. McKendree University (Ill.) (3-1 / 16-11)
3. Missouri Baptist University (2-0 / 16-11)
4. Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.) (4-2 / 18-9)
5. Park University (Mo.) (1-3 / 9-5)
6. Williams Baptist College (Ark.) (2-6 / 15-16)
7. Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.) (1-5 / 8-15)

TranSouth Athletic Conference
1. Cumberland University (Tenn.) (2-1 / 25-6)
2. Bethel University (Tenn.) (2-1 / 19-2-1)
3. Union University (Tenn.) (1-2 / 21-5)
4. Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) (1-2 / 19-10)
5. Lyon College (Ark.) (2-1 / 18-8)
6. Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) (2-1 / 18-10)
7. Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) (1-2 / 12-15)
8. Mid-Continent University (Ky.) (1-2 / 7-15)

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