By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE -- The starting of rebuilding Arkansas baseball team is underway with Dave Van Horn hitting both the portal and junior colleges to restock the roster.

Van Horn has added his first position player with UCA's Zeb Allen choosing the Razorbacks. Allen is an outfielder who hit 17 home runs for UCA this season. Allen hit a two-run home run against the Razorbacks this past season. Allen owns the single season and career all-time records for home runs at UCA.

Allen, 5-11, 185, hit .306, 51 RBIs and stole 20 bases along with 17 home runs this past season. In all, Allen hit 30 home runs for the Bears. He hit four as a freshman and nine during sophomore season. He played in 160 career games for UCA with 186 hits, 29 doubles, 10 triples and 45 career stolen bases.

The other new additions to Arkansas are all pitchers. Crowder (Mo.) College left-handed pitcher Micah Henson, 6-4, 225, pitched in 14 games, all starts, this past season as a freshman. Henson (6-2, 4.18 ERA) pitched 60 1/3 innings striking out 101 and walking 43.

Arkansas has also added Belmont's Ridge Harvey, 6-1, 185, and Johnson County (Kan.) Community College's Lance Alexander, 6-0, 185.

Harvey (1-2, 4,34 ERA) pitched 46 2/3 innings. He started the season as Belmont's closer before moving into the starting rotation. Harvey struck out 50 and walked 15 hitters.

Alexander (3-2, 4.47 ERA) had three saves on the season. He appeared in 19 games with seven starts in 50 1/3 innings while striking out 67. Johnson County won the junior college national championship. In the title game against Blinn (Texas) College, Alexander started and worked 6 2/3 innings while helping his team to an 8-5 win.