Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2021 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards.

The University of Arkansas was the 2021 Team of the Year. The Razorbacks went 50-14 overall this year and 22-8 in the Southeastern Conference. They won both the SEC regular season title and the SEC tournament title and were the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament before falling to North Carolina State in the Fayetteville Super Regional. The Hogs were just the second team ever to win every conference series in the SEC (they were 10-0 in conference series) and they spent an incredible fifteen weeks ranked number one in the country.

Dave Van Horn is the 2021 coach of the year. In his 19 years as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Van Horn has missed the NCAA Tournament just once and has reached the College World Series six times. In his overall coaching career, he has reached the College World Series eight times and has a 1070–561 record.

The University of Arkansas' Kevin Kopps is the 2021 Pitcher and Player of the Year. The 6th year senior was college baseball's most dominant pitcher. He went 12-1 with 11 saves and struck out 131 in 89 2/3 innings. His ERA was 0.90 and his WHIP was 0.76. Kopps was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, the Collegiate Baseball National Pitcher of the Year, the NCBWA Stopper of the Year, and was awarded the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the best collegiate player in the country. Kopps is the first relief pitcher to win the Howser trophy. He is also a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

The Freshman of the Year is Dan Taylor of Arkansas-Rich Mountain. The designated hitter from Rogers hit .370 with 7 home runs, 22 doubles, and 59 RBI. He also scored 43 runs and stole 18 bases for the Bucks, who went 29-28 in their inaugural season.

The Natural Award, given to the player from the state of Arkansas with the most outstanding season, is awarded to Tristen Jamison of National Park College. The native of Nashville batted .328 for the Nighthawks and hit 23 home runs, drove in 70, and stole 11 bases.

Congratulations to The Arkansas Razorbacks, Dave Van Horn, Kevin Kopps, Dan Taylor, Arkansas-Rich Mountain, Tristen Jamison, and National Park College from Natural State Baseball.

All-Arkansas Team

Catcher – Brett McGee, Southern Arkansas (.307, 14 home runs, 44 RBI)
First – Zack Espinosa, Ecclesia (.360, 16 doubles, 17 home runs, 53 RBI)
Second – Austin Baker, Southern Arkansas (.397, 19 doubles, 24 RBI, 22 stolen bases)
Third – Tristen Jamison, National Park (.335, 23 home runs, 70 RBI)
Shortstop – Kelvin Volquez, Central Baptist (.396, 13 home runs, 41 RBI)
Left Field – Will Hodges, Central Baptist (.440, 12 home runs, 42 RBI)
Center Field – Trent Pobst, Williams Baptist (.362, 6 home runs, 28 RBI, 28 stolen bases)
Right Field – Demias Jimerson, National Park (.348, 23 home runs, 56 RBI)
Designated Hitter – Dan Taylor, Arkansas-Rich Mountain (.376, 22 doubles, 7 home runs, 64 RBI, 18 stolen bases)

Starting Pitcher – Patrick Wicklander, Arkansas (7-1, 2.09 ERA, 85 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Patrick Miner, Arkansas Tech (9-2, 3.57, 102 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – River Hunt, Arkansas-Monticello (9-0, 3.52 ERA, 64 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Kevin Kopps, Arkansas (12-1, 0.90 ERA, 11 saves, 131 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Tyler Cleveland, Central Arkansas (6-3, 2.43 ERA, 9 saves, 84 strikeouts)
Pitcher – Ryder Yakel, Harding (6-2, 2.95 ERA, 6 saves, 60 strikeouts)
Pitcher – Coleson Coffey, Ecclesia (8-3, 3.17, 80 strikeouts)

Player of the Year – Kevin Kopps, Arkansas
Pitcher of the Year – Kevin Kopps, Arkansas
Freshman of the Year – Dan Taylor, Arkansas-Rich Mountain
The Natural – Tristen Jamison, National Park
Coach of the Year – Dave Van Horn, Arkansas
Team of the Year – Arkansas Razorbacks

Honorable mention:

Robert Moore (Arkansas), Brady Slavens (Arkansas), Tyler Duncan (ASU), Mason Griffin (ATU), Nick Kovar (ATU), Trace Maddux (ATU), Jay French (CBC), Nate Finney (Crowley's Ridge), Cole Howard (Ecclesia), Jalen Reece (Ecclesia), Matthew Threatt (Ecclesia), David Butterfield (Harding), Michael Chrisman (Harding), Kaden Argenbright (Henderson St.), Spencer Taack (Henderson St.), Taylor Langston (Henderson St.), Hayden Arnold (Little Rock), Aaron Barkley (Little Rock), Alan West (Lyon), Kobe Morris (SAU), Jacob Womack (SAU), Dylan Borman (UAM), Jordan Johnson (UAM),  Mason Reynolds (UARM), Luke Rice (UARM)

Natural State Baseball: http://www.naturalstatebaseball.22web.org/