23 Jun 2021 Harding’s Yakel named to Natural State Baseball All-Arkansas Team

Posted at 3:08 PMh in Sports by

SEARCY – Natural State Baseball, a social media account that covers college baseball in Arkansas, released its 2021 All-Arkansas Team. Harding senior pitcher Ryder Yakel made the list with third baseman David Butterfield and outfielder Michael Chrisman among those receiving honorable mention.

Yakel, the Great American Conference Pitcher of the Year, had a 6-2 record with six saves and a 2.95 ERA with 60 strikeouts.

Ryder Yakel


Butterfield led Harding with a .403 average, .481 on-base percentage and .675 slugging percentage. Chrisman hit .394, leading the team with 69 hits and 16 stolen bases.

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)