Gorilla Ball and the personality of Arkansas baseball

FAYETTEVILLE, Ar. (KNWA/KFTA) – Dave Van Horn and his staff understand that winning in the SEC requires a business-like mindset to be successful.

It’s how the Razorbacks continue to be national contenders year in and year out. Yet, there was something missing from the 2024 squad; personality.

In the early 1990’s, LSU baseball head coach Skip Bertman first introduced the concept of Gorilla Ball, an ideology of hitting big home runs, doubles, and making big plays in the field. Arkansas assistant baseball coaches Bobby Wernes and Nate Thompson brought the idea to Fayetteville, hoping to spark a struggling Hog offense.

“Coach Wernes was like, lets play big, lets play gorilla ball,” Hogs second baseman Peyton Stovall told the media. “Hit doubles, homers, hard contact stuff like that and… coach Thompson mentioned an idea where like, we’ll get like a gorilla type something after the game. it’d be the MVP hitter for the game.”

After the Hogs swept McNeese State, the Gorilla became a symbol of unity for the #2 Razorback baseball team. After homeruns, the team celebrates with a chain and a gorilla mask.

“I was actually just like right about to go to sleep one night, and I just I was like, what if we get like a gorilla mask,” Stovall said. “Like, that’d be pretty cool.”

Not long after that, the gorilla mask became synonymous with the 2024 team and Van Horn couldn’t help but get in on the fun.

“It’s about you know, just the team and camaraderie and having some fun more than anything shown a little personality,” Van Horn told the media.

And if Van Horn has worn the mask yet…

“Not when anybody can see me you know!”

The Razorbacks start a crucial stretch to finish off the regular season this weekend at #8 Kentucky.