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

Razorbacks Get Three Named To All-SEC Team

Three Arkansas baseball players had their great play on the field recognized as Grant Koch, Jax Biggers, and Dominic Fletcher each were named all-conference players Monday by the Southeastern Conference office.

Koch leads the trio as a first team All-SEC catcher, while Biggers was named as a second team All-SEC shortstop. Fletcher is part of the SEC All-Freshman Team in the outfield.

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Trevor Stephan named SEC Pitcher of the Week

On Saturday against the Vols, eight of his 11 strikeouts came in the first four innings, including striking out the side in the first and third innings. In each of his last five starts, he has yet to give up more than three earned runs and hasn’t given up a home run in his last three outings.

For the year, Stephan is holding a 3.14 ERA over 63 innings. His 22 earned runs allowed ties him with Blaine Knight for the lowest on the team and his 50 hits allowed is the lowest among Hog starters with 40 or more innings pitched. His 82 strikeouts is tied for sixth-most in the league and his 11.71 strikeouts per nine innings is the second-most in the SEC.

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Bonfield Named SEC Player of the Week

Junior outfielder Luke Bonfield was named the SEC Player of the Week today, as it was announced by the Southeastern Conference office. Bonfield was a key component over the last week, helping Arkansas go 4-0 with a win over Missouri State and a series sweep of Georgia.

This is the first player of the week honor for an Arkansas player this season and the first for Bonfield in his career. Over the previous four-game stretch, the junior hit an even .400, including hitting two home runs to help Arkansas sweep Georgia and win its fourth SEC series of the year. His play has been a big reason that the Razorbacks have gotten off to their best conference start since 2010.

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Gatorade Arkansas Baseball POY: Evan Lee

THE WINNER: Evan Lee
THE BASICS
School: Bryant (Ark.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Left-handed pitcher and outfielder
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Hornets (30-2) to the Class 7A state championship this past season. Ranked as the state’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2016 by Prep Baseball Report, Lee posted a 9-0 record on the mound with a 0.54 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 52 innings. A 2015 First Team All-State selection and the 2016 Class 7A state tournament MVP, he produced a .462 batting average with three home runs and 31 RBI this spring.
Academic excellence: Lee has maintained a 4.07 GPA.
Exemplary character: A member of the National Honor Society, he has volunteered locally on behalf of an elementary school literacy-outreach program, a community cleanup initiative and in association with his church youth group.
THE PRAISE
“Evan Lee displayed great mound presence and body language and is a great team player,” said Alan Hardcastle, head coach at Siloam Springs. “He is by far the best pitcher we have faced this year.”

THE FUTURE: Lee has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at University of Arkansas this fall.

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Taccolini Earns SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week Honor

Junior right-handed pitcher Dominic Taccolini was named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week today as it was announced by the Southeastern Conference office. Taccolini had, arguably, the best performance of his career on the mound Friday in helping Arkansas snap an eight-game conference losing streak with a 1-0 victory over No. 12 Kentucky.

Taccolini earned his team-leading fourth win of the season, going a career-long 10 innings and striking out a career-high 10 batters without giving up a run against the Wildcats for the complete game shutout. Both the complete game and the shutout were the first of his career.

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Michael Bernal picks up National, SEC honors

Swung on & belted...

This is just outrageous. https://t.co/XfeixiMWPd

— Razorback Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) February 28, 2016

Louisville Slugger Players of the Week:

SS Michael Bernal, Arkansas: Bernal belted 4 home runs as he went 8-for-20 with 11 RBI. Six of his eight hits were for extra bases as he also had two doubles.


SEC Players of the Week:

Co-Player of the Week: Michael Bernal, Arkansas

• Michael Bernal recorded multi-hit games in four of Arkansas' five games, getting two hits each in both games against Mississippi Valley State, No. 9 Houston and No. 23 Texas Tech.
• Bernal's two home runs vs. Houston was his first career two-home run game. He went 2-for-4 with five RBI in the game, also a new career-high.
• Six of Bernal's eight hits week were for extra base and four were home runs.
• Bernal currently leads the SEC with four home runs, all occurring this week.

• His performance over the weekend earned him 2016 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic's Most Outstanding Player honor.

Hogs move up in D1 Polls

CBN: #16 [up 8]
BA: #17 [NR]
Coaches:
NCBWA: #12 [up 6]


D1Baseball: #14 [up 10]

Perfect Game: #16 [up 9]

2016 Stopper of the Year Watchlist

Zach Jackson - Arkansas
Keenan Wingfield - Arkansas Little Rock



See the full list.

2016 Louisville Slugger All-Americans

Relief Zach Jackson (Arkansas)

full team

Arkansas 24th in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll

Full poll here

Andrew Benintendi named co-winner of the Gregg Olson Award

Arkansas sophomore outfielder Andrew Benintendi and Mercer’s Kyle Lewis have been named the co-winners of the 2015 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports. The honor is given to college baseball’s breakout player of the year. The award is presented to a top amateur baseball player who elevates his game to an elite level throughout the season.

In an injury-hampered freshman season in 2014, Benintendi started in 60 of 65 games for the Razorbacks, but was more of a threat on the base paths than at the plate. He did have a team leading 17 stolen bases, but he only managed to hit .276 with a single home run.

Benintendi triumphantly exploded on to the scene this year, as he became the first college baseball player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season since 2009. He won both the 2015 Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Awards led the Southeastern Conference in batting average at .380, home runs, on-base and slugging percentage and also drew 50 walks to place just outside the top ten nationally. After leading his team to the College World Series, Benintendi was chosen seventh player chosen overall in the MLD draft.

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Dallas Keuchel named to All Star Game

Astros manager A.J. Hinch called lefty Dallas Keuchel hours before he took the ball Monday against the Indians and informed him he had made the American League All-Star team. It certainly came as no surprise considering the numbers Keuchel has amassed this year.

Keuchel, who kept the news secret until it was announced on television Monday night, then went out and picked up his AL-high 11th win of the season by holding the Indians to three runs in six innings in the Astros' 9-4 win in the series opener at Progressive Field.

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Keuchel is a former Razorback.

2015 College All-Americans from Perfect Game

First team:
OF Andrew Benintendi
Arkansas


Third team:
RP Zach Jackson
Arkansas


full team

Andrew Benintendi Wins Golden Spikes Award

Andrew Benintendi was awarded one of the highest honors in collegiate baseball Tuesday evening when he was named the 38th recipient of the Golden Spikes Award during a live presentation on SportsCenter at ESPN’s Los Angeles studio.

The prestigious Golden Spikes Award is the fourth national player of the year honor for Benintendi, who leads the country with 20 home runs on the year after guiding Arkansas to its eighth College World Series appearance in program history in 2015. The sophomore is the third SEC player in the last four years to capture the Golden Spikes 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)

ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Americans announced

NCAA Div. I All-America First Team
Andrew Benintendi - Arkansas

NCAA Div. I All-America Third Team
Zach George - Arkansas State

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Andrew Benintendi Wins Dick Howser Trophy

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and Major League player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character, and courage, qualities which were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.

Past winners of the prestigious award include Robin Ventura, Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, J.D. Drew, Mark Teixeira, Buster Posey, Stephen Strasburg and most recently Kentucky’s AJ Reed in 2014 as the best collegiate baseball player in the nation.

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Andrew Benintendi named Baseball America Player of the Year

Van Horn said some of the recognition might’ve gotten to Benintendi during the SEC tournament, where he went hitless until the ninth inning of the second game. His first hit was a jaw-dropper of a home run that clanked off of the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium scoreboard in right field.

“I think that was just a lot of frustration coming out of him,” Van Horn said, laughing.
Since then, Benintendi has seemingly come to terms with it all. More relaxed at the plate, he’s helped lead the Razorbacks back to the College World Series. And after his electric four months in Fayetteville, he soared up draft boards, eventually sticking as the seventh overall pick, to the Red Sox. His draft worries are over.

“It’s been a lot, especially with all these awards and things like that, but I just try to take it in,” Benintendi said. “It’s exciting, though. I get a lot of texts from people that I know and people from back home, and it sounds like they’re excited, almost more excited than I am.”

They’ve been excited for some time.

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Aaron Gentry Named New Head Baseball Coach at University of the Ozarks

Aaron Gentry, a two-time winner of the American Southwest Conference Coaching Staff of the Year award at LeTourneau University, was named the new Head Baseball Coach at the University of the Ozarks, it was announced by Athletic Director Jimmy Clark Tuesday.
   
Gentry has served as the assistant coach at LeTourneau University the past eight years and helped guide the program to its three most successful seasons in program history. During that three-year run, LeTourneau qualified for the ASC playoffs back-to-back seasons, and won one ASC title. In 2014, the YellowJackets had a banner year, earning a berth in the NCAA III Regionals as well as winning an ASC Tournament championship. The 2014 team also won a program-best 33 games behind one of the ASC's most potent offenses and efficient pitching staffs. In 2015, LeTourneau again qualified for the playoffs and eight players earned All-Conference recognition. In 2013, LeTourneau posted its first winning season since 1999 and improved its win total by seven from the previous season. Over the past three seasons, the program went 73-48.

Gentry signed with the University of Arkansas after an impressive high school career at Claremore. After being drafted in the 12^th round in 1997, Gentry played in the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1997-2000. He was drafted three times by three different major league baseball teams.

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