Covering all fields
Serrano, Benintendi, Spoon give UA everything it needs
FAYETTEVILLE — It was an all-Arkansas outfield for the all- regional team in Stillwater, Okla.
After the Razorbacks went 3- 0 to win their NCAA regional, capped by a 4- 3 victory over St. John’s last Sunday night, Arkansas left fielder Joe Serrano was named Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all- regional team by center fielder Andrew Benintendi and right fielder Tyler Spoon.
“Our outfield gave that regional a good run for its money,” said Serrano, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., who was 6 for 12 in Stillwater. “I feel if our outfield shows up and we’re hitting, it’s going to be pretty hard for the other team to combat that.”
The Razorbacks’ outfielders will look to be differencemakers again this weekend when Arkansas ( 38- 22) plays Missouri State ( 48- 10) in an NCAA super regional at Baum Stadium.
Today’s opener in the best- of- 3 series starts at 3: 30 p. m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
The eight super regional winners advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Serrano, Benintendi and Spoon combined to hit .429 at the regional ( 15 for 35) and had several highlight catches, notably Serrano running down a drive by St. John’s Anthony Brocato at the left- field wall with no outs in the fifth and a runner on first base.
“That catch might have saved the game for us,” Spoon said.
“Joe has come so far from what I’ve seen since my freshman year,” said Arkansas junior pitcher Trey Killian, who will start today’s game. “He probably gets the best reads out there in the outfield.
“He might not
be the fastest guy, but he reads the ball well off the bat. Benny and Spoon, they’re just tracking everything down. They can both pretty much fly.”
Some center fielders might have to help compensate for weaknesses by a corner outfielder, but that isn’t an issue for Benintendi.
“We all know what we’re doing and understand the situations where we need to move around,” Benintendi said. “Everybody’s defensive IQ is pretty high out there.”
Spoon has five outfield assists this season throwing out runners while making one error. Serrano has three assists with one error, and Benintendi has two assists and two errors.
Serrano and Spoon each have a .991 fielding percentage with Benintendi at .982.
“Unreal,” Arkansas freshman starting pitcher Keaton McKinney said. “It’s definitely the best outfield I’ve seen. In college baseball the last few years, I think it would definitely be in the top three.”
Coach Dave Van Horn said the Razorbacks have had some elite outfielders in his 13 seasons as Arkansas’ coach, led by Craig Gentry and Brett Eibner, but that Serrano, Spoon and Benintendi are the best combination he can recall playing together.
“As far as having three guys that have played almost every game out there all year long and have been so consistent, I would say this is probably the best,” Van Horn said. “They’re solid defenders, good offensive players, good base runners. There’s some power mixed in there. They’re clutch hitters. “It’s been good.” Spoon, a redshirt junior from Van Buren, was flattered to hear Van Horn’s assessment.
“For him to say that is awesome,” Spoon said. “Growing up in Arkansas and seeing all the great outfielders that have been here, that’s pretty cool.”
Benintendi, a draft- eligible sophomore from Cincinnati, is hitting .390 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, 54 RBI and 57 runs scored. He’s stolen 22 bases in 26 attempts.
“Benny’s just an extremely talented hitter playing center field,” Van Horn said. “He’s been very consistent all year. That’s how you hit almost .400.”
Benintendi was voted by SEC coaches as the league’s player of the year and was named national player of the year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. He is one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award presented to the nation’s top amateur player and sponsored by Major League Baseball.
“You can tell the players really like Andrew,” Van Horn said. “He’s not all about Andrew, he just wants to win. That’s been good to watch his teammates pull for him.”
Spoon is batting .330 with 6 home runs, 20 doubles, 50 RBI and 33 runs.
“I think Tyler’s having his best year by far,” Van Horn said. “He’s had the job of hitting behind Andrew, who gets pitched around. The pressure’s been put on Tyler, and he’s delivered, and there’s probably not a better right fielder as far as just making catches and his throwing ability.”
Serrano has batted leadoff or second this season with Benintendi hitting third and Spoon in the cleanup spot.
“Benny and Spoon are like the repo men,” Serrano said. “If we’ve got runners on base, they’re going to take them off for us.”
Serrano is batting .286 with 3 home runs, 11 doubles and 33 RBI with 42 runs. He’s had many key hits this season — including a game- winning RBI single against Mississippi State — and had the game- winning RBI in the regional championship game against St. John’s on a groundout in the ninth inning.
St. John’s intentionally walked Tucker Pennell to load the bases with one out in the ninth hoping for a double play grounder from Serrano or a forceout at home plate with the game tied 3- 3.
“I just felt like Serrano wanted it, man. He wanted to be up there,” Van Horn said. “He knew that he was going to make contact and get that runner in. We all did. He’s been really clutch for us all year.”
Serrano came to Arkansas as a second baseman but was converted to the outfield, where he played in left during the Razorbacks’ run to the 2012 College World Series.
“I liked the way he ran the bases and swung the bat,” Van Horn said. “We just needed to find a way to get him in the lineup as a freshman.”
Serrano showed the outfielders’ camaraderie in Arkansas’ opener against Tennessee at Baum Stadium after Benintendi lost his glove over the wall trying to catch a home run.
“I was like, ‘ Someone’s got to go around the bullpen and get that glove,’ ” Spoon said. “Then I turned back around and Joe was on top of the fence.”
Serrano jumped over the fence, retrieved the glove and jumped back onto the field to give to Benintendi.
“Joe just wanted to show he’s a better athlete than Benny,” Van Horn said.
Serrano said he has continued at the start of each season to introduce himself to new players as a second baseman, although he’s long been the established left fielder.
“I’m always going to say I’m a second baseman until you tell me otherwise,” Serrano said with a smile. “Me and Benny and Spoon joke about how the best hands are in the outfield.
“Why don’t they put us in the infield? We could fill that out just fine, but I love being in the outfield with my buddies.”