Collegiate Baseball The Voice Of Amateur Baseball Started In 1958 At The Request Of Our Nation’s Baseball Coaches Vol. 64, No. 11 Friday, June 18, 2021 $4.00 Unforgettable ’Series Moments USC’s dramatic steal of home in 1998 and Miami’s Grand Illusion of 1982 were remarkable. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. Editor/Collegiate Baseball MAHA, Neb. — No event in sports history has had more wild Omoments than the College World Series. Who will ever forget USC’s steal of home in the championship game of the 1998 CWS or the Grand Illusion performed by Miami in 1982. Several leisurely tosses back to first The Grand Illusion will always be base got the desired result — Stephenson remembered as the greatest sting operation diving back. in CWS history. A special play was flashed to the Miami The Hurricanes had just taken a 4-3 defense by the Hurricane Associate Head lead against Wichita St. in the top of the Coach Skip Bertman by sticking a finger sixth. in his ear, a maneuver which pitcher Mike All-American Phil Stephenson of the Kasprzak repeated to clue his teammates Shockers came to bat in the bottom of the in on the play. sixth for WSU and promptly walked. He Once Kasprzak received the ball back WILD CELEBRATION — The College World Series has enjoyed a number of had swiped 86 bases in 91 attempts to set from his first baseman, he stepped off the incredible moments over the years which will never be forgotten. In the above an NCAA record. pitching rubber and made a quick motion photo, Virginia celebrates after winning the 2015 CWS with catcher Matt Thaiss Everyone knew Stephenson was about and pitcher Nathan Kirby embracing after the final out. to try and steal second base. See GRAND ILLUSION, Page 16 Collegiate Baseball’s 2021 National Player Of The Year After 8.18 ERA In 2020, Kopps Nearly Unhittable Arkansas relief pitcher for the Razorbacks in the COVID-19 flat and didn’t have much to it. I could shortened season. throw it a little bit harder at 88 mph. 12-0 with 11 saves, 0.68 He allowed 10 earned runs, 14 total, The one I throw now is 86 to 87 mph. ERA and 120 strikeouts on 18 hits and 4 walks. “Going back to my old arm action, in 31 appearances. How in the world did this which was a little bit lower, fixed transformation happen which almost everything. By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR. seems impossible to believe. “Before I got to Arkansas, I was Editor/Collegiate Baseball “I had Tommy John Surgery on my a sinker/slider pitcher. When I got to right elbow in early October of 2017 Arkansas, I tried to be someone I’m AYETTEVILLE, Ark. — and missed the entire 2018 season as not and throw harder. As I have become Collegiate Baseball’s 2021 I rehabbed after surgery for a year,” stronger, I do throw harder and don’t FNational Player of The Year is said Kopps. need to throw with max effort. RHP Kevin Kopps of Arkansas who He made a team-high 30 appearances, “After the 2020 season, I decided posted stunning numbers. all in relief, during the 2019 season and to go back to what I was successful He is the first relief pitcher to win had a 6-3 record and 3.89 ERA in 41.6 doing which was locating and mixing this honor in the 38-year history of innings. different pitches in different areas of the award. Then in 2020, he struggled big the strike zone. Kopps posted an 12-0 record, 11 time. “It’s funny. I actually rediscovered saves, 0.68 ERA and struck out 120 “After I came back from Tommy my natural arm action by throwing tennis batters with only 15 walks. John surgery, I was trying to throw a balls to my dog Kiki (Goldendoodle) He has worked more innings (79.6) 4-seam fastball over the top and aim playing fetch after the 2020 season. than any pitcher on the staff which is for the top of the zone which doesn’t I was constantly thinking about what incredibly rare for a relief pitcher as he work with my arm action. During the was going on and why I wasn’t being has limited opposing hitters to a .156 shortened 2020 season, that pitch was successful. And just like that, my old batting average. getting hit a lot. arm action was found once again. This remarkable pitcher has only “I couldn’t find comfort throwing “Another factor was being two given up 6 runs in 31 appearances. a fastball because every time I threw years out from Tommy John surgery Now consider this. it, it got hit really hard. Along with and rehab. People have no idea how Only a year ago in 2020, Kopps that, throwing my cutter over the top difficult it is to pitch off a mound after had a frustrating 8.18 ERA and 0-1 like that took a lot of the depth and Arkansas athletics Photo courtesy of record after pitching just 11 innings movement out of that pitch. So it was See KOPPS, Page 15 Arkansas RHP Kevin Kopps Inside Collegiate Baseball Web Site: www.baseballnews.com College World Series Preview Collegiate Baseball A-A Teams Special Championship Roundup CB looks at how each of the final 8 Elite NCAA Division I players, high CB takes a look at how teams won teams made it to Omaha and what school stars honored from teams titles in NCAA Div. II, III, NAIA, makes them special/Pages 7-8 across USA/Page 12, 14, 20 NJCAA Div. I, II, III/Pages 17-19 Page 2 Collegiate Baseball Friday, June 18, 2021 Now Available By Popular Demand 8 Amazing E-Books For Sale! 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