Inside Texas Town That Gave Dave Van Horn Shot at Baseball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There was exactly one car in the parking lot when coach Rick Butler pulled into the parking lot at 7 a.m. inside McLennan Community College all those years ago in Waco, Texas. It had a Missouri license plate. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn had made the trip from Kansas City and was now just looking to get away from the cold and some playing time.
At the time, Van Horn (went by David at the time) was a third baseman. Much like the junior college players of today, Van Horn was just looking for a shot. Butler had run into a fellow coach of his at a convention of Texas high school baseball coaches just the week before where he heard about Van Horn for the first time. Butler was certainly willing to give the young third baseman a look.
"Our program was based on competition," Butler said. "Nobody that had come back from the previous year had any positions solidified. We wanted to make sure everybody would compete from the very first day of fall practice. When we did that, we noticed he was a fierce competitor."
Fierce competitive spirit won Van Horn the job at third base in 1980, and he shined straight away, hitting .345 with four homers and a team-leading 18 doubles. The McLennan Highlanders were dominant on both sides of the ball going 45-11 en route to making the JUCO World Series for the first time in program history.
"Little different feeling when you’re a true freshman," Van Horn said. "First college game, you don’t know how it’s going to go. I was a starter on a team that was loaded with sophomores."
One of those sophomores, Craig McMurtry, led the way for the Highlanders, going 19-2 on the mound with 117 strikeouts across 150 1/3 innings pitched. McMurtry would go on to have an eight-year MLB career with the Braves, Rangers and Astros including finishing seventh in NL Cy Young Voting in 1983 and second in NL Rookie of the Year behind New York Mets Hall of Famer Darryl Strawberry.
McMurtry's most vivid memory of Van Horn came away from the diamond. He remembers the infamous 3-mile runs under coach Butler and assistant Dub Kilgo that qualified as team bonding.
"Biggest memory I have of Dave is we had a 3-mile run that we had to do in the offseason," McMurtry said. "He and I were battling every time we ran that 3-mile run of who was going to win. He won some of them. I won some of them. His competitiveness was off the charts. Just one of those guys that you knew when he was on the field, he was going to give you everything he had."
(Gunnar Rathbun / Arkansas Communications)
Nearly half a century later, coach Butler isn't quite sure how much of those stories are folklore and how much of it is true, but it shows the type of team that McLennan built across his 18 seasons as the baseball coach (1970-1988).
"Those kinds of stories get embellished a lot over the years," Butler said. "We did our fair share of running over the years. We weren't going to be beaten because we were out of shape in the second game of a doubleheader."
The 1980 team fell short of winning it all, falling to Cleveland State and settling for third place. McLennan would return to the World Series the following year with Van Horn garnering All-American honors. The Highlanders would finally reach the pinnacle in 1983, winning for the first time in program history.
Butler wasn't the least bit surprised when Van Horn ended his playing days that he became a successful coach.
"He always studied the game," Butler said. "How he learned. How he asked questions. How his mind worked. I think you could tell he was good coaching material."
Butler is now fully retired after 41 years at McLennan, doing everything from coaching baseball and golf to teaching online P.E classes. He still keeps in close contact with many of the players from that historic 1980 season. The coach in him can never quite leave him.
"I've got a very good relationship with all those guys," Butler said. "When I can, especially on Southeastern Conference Network, I watch a lot of his games and watch his strategy. One of his assistants (Nate Thompson) is McLennan's Mitch Thompson's brother. I watched David build that program and I'm very proud of what he's done."
McMurtry has built a successful coaching career of his own, spending the last 26 years at Temple Junior College and making three JUCO World Series of his own after a stint as a Minor League coach. He still gives his old sprint buddy a call every time there's a player he thinks Van Horn should keep his eye on. Catcher Tucker Pennell started 84 games across two seasons including on the 2015 World Series Arkansas team after transferring from Temple.
McLennan Junior College in Waco with Dave Van Horn (No. 8, fourth, from left, in center on third row).
For what it's worth, McMurtry still thinks he'd have the upper hand if they ran back those 3-mile sprints all these years later.
"Tell Dave I can still probably beat him in that 3-mile run," McMurtry said with a laugh.
Van Horn has come full circle throughout his over two decades at Arkansas. He's often had a player from McLennan on his roster. Outfielder Hunter Grimes is the latest example. Other notable alums that went on to play for the Hogs include Jalen Battles, Matt Campbell and Max Hogan. Van Horn implements the same standard of competition that Butler instilled in him nearly half a century ago, even if they are from the same small JUCO that gave Van Horn his upbringing in baseball.
"A little conversation off the field about living in Waco and playing at McLennan," Van Horn said talking about McLennan JUCO transfers playing for the Hogs. "Talking to them about their days there. That would be the only sentimental value. It’s all about now, about playing now and playing well and getting in the lineup. I don’t think it puts them a step ahead of anybody."
Van Horn will begin his 22nd season as Razorback coach 3 p.m. Feb. 16 against James Madison.
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