Natural State Baseball is pleased to announce its 2024 All-Arkansas Collegiate Team and Awards.

South Arkansas Community College is the 2024 Team of the Year. The Stars were also the 2023 All-Arkansas Team of the Year. In the 2024 season, their third in program history, SouthArk advanced to their second consecutive NJACC DII World Series. The Stars were 41-24 this season, including 20-10 in conference. They were 2-2 in the World Series in Enid, Oklahoma.

Aaron Brister, head coach of Central Baptist College, is the Natural State Baseball Coach of the Year. The Mustangs won 13 more games in 2024 than in 2023 and made it to the championship game of the American Midwest Conference. CBC, an NAIA school, was 38-15 this season and 14-7 in conference.

The NSB Player of the Year, and the NSB Freshman of the Year, is Camden Tanner from UA-Monticello. Tanner, a native of North Little Rock, batted .423 this season for the Boll Weevils and had 30 extra base hits, including 13 home runs. He added 26 walks and drove in 49 in 56 games. Tanner and the Boll Weevils won the GAC Tournament and advanced all the way to the Super Regional round of the NCAA DII Tournament. Tanner was the NCBWA Central Region player of the week in April.

The NSB Pitcher of the Year is Hagen Smith of the University of Arkansas. Smith, a junior from Bullard, Texas, set season and career strike out records for the Razorbacks, and his 161 strikeouts this season is the second-most in the history of college baseball in the state of Arkansas. He threw 84 innings and recorded just 34 walks with his 161 strikeouts and posted a 2.04 ERA, leading the Hogs to a 44-16 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Smith was the SEC Pitcher of the Year.

Jesse Barker of the University of Central Arkansas is awarded the Natural, given to an outstanding season performance by a player from the state of Arkansas. Barker, a graduate student originally from Benton, is a two time All-Arkansas selection. He threw 108.2 innings for the Bears this season and posted 119 strikeouts with just 28 walks. He threw 4 complete games in 15 starts, and pitched in a total of 18 games this season. Barker was named the ASUN Pitcher of the Year.

All-Arkansas Team

Catcher – Chaz Poppy, Arkansas-Monticello (.313, 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 62 RBI)
First – Nicholas Bennett, Ozarks (.411, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 25 RBI)
Second – Gavin Mink, Williams Baptist (.357, 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 47 RBI)
Third – Austin Teal, Central Baptist (.427, 6 home runs, 53 RBI, 33 stolen bases)
Shortstop – Reed Ellison, NorthArk (.416, 15 doubles, 12 home runs, 50 RBI)
Left Field – Cade McBride, Central Baptist (.438, 15 doubles, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases)
Center Field – Kyle Tolley, SouthArk (.343, 11 home runs, 38 RBI, 24 stolen bases)
Right Field – Keaton Ranallo, Arkansas Tech (.364, 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 58 RBI)
Designated Hitter – Camden Tanner, Arkansas-Monticello (.423, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 49 RBI)

Starting Pitcher – Hagen Smith, Arkansas (9-2, 2.04 ERA, 161 strikeouts)
Starting Pitcher – Ryan Ursery, SouthArk (11-4, 3.89 ERA)
Starting Pitcher – Jesse Barker, Central Arkansas (3-6, 3.40 ERA, 119 strikeouts)
Relief Pitcher – Nelson Mercado, Arkansas-Monticello (4-3, 3.24 ERA, 10 saves)
Relief Pitcher – Jacob Weatherley, Little Rock (6-3, 2.92 ERA, 9 saves)
Pitcher – Maddox Long, Harding (6-1, 3.33 ERA, 107 strikeouts)
Pitcher – Thomas Jordan, ASU-Mountain Home (10-0, 2.57 ERA)

Player of the Year – Camden Tanner, Arkansas-Monticello
Pitcher of the Year – Hagen Smith, Arkansas
The Natural – Jesse Barker, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year – Camden Tanner, Arkansas-Monticello
Coach of the Year – Aaron Brister, Central Baptist
Team of the Year – SouthArk Community College Stars

Honorable mention:

Devyn McEachron (ASU Mid-South); Alex Harrell (ASU Mtn. Home); Trent Jordan (ASU Mtn. Home); Sammy Lemond (ASU Mtn. Home); Chris Tillery (ASU Mtn. Home); Kolby Webb (ASU Mtn. Home); Will Horton (ATU); Logan Schwenke (ATU); Grant Shahan (ATU); Jacori Hicks (CBC); Gram Middleton (CBC); Jett Warner (Ecclesia); Collin Helms (Harding); Javier Lobo (Harding); Adam Bland (Hendrix); Drake Job (Hendrix); Kaden Argenbright (HSU); Luke Rice (HSU); Nico Baumbach (Little Rock); Hoss Brewer (Little Rock); Cameron Gordon (Lyon); Braden Hendrix (Lyon); Will Beckham (NorthArk); Garrett Fitts (NorthArk); Hagen McGarrah (NorthArk); Jackson Rains (NorthArk); Eli Hutcherson (NPC); G Allen (OBU); Dustin Bermudez (OBU); Chase Oberle (OBU); Michael Quinones (OBU); Juan Zorola (Philander Smith); Brett Foss (SACC); Gabe Kuttenkuler (SACC); Jeremy Adorno (SAU); Isaiah Haynes (SAU); Mikel Howell (SAU); Cooper McDaniel (SAUT); Cameron Gonzalez (SEARK); Jake Faherty (UA); Christian Foutch (UA); Gabe Gaeckle (UA); Peyton Stovall (UA); Michael Brinton (UAFS); Nico Patrick (UAFS); Brayden Ross (UAFS); Brandon Ulmer (UAFS); Connor Irvine (UAM); Kirk Woolf (UAM); Edwin DeLaCruz (UAPB); Jack Bilski (UARM); Hunter Alexander (UCA); Tyrell Burnett (WBU); Noah Willingham (WBU)