Bio

Aaron Akin, one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the Cowley College baseball program, was recognized for his accomplishments when he is inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 29, 2022.

Akin grew up in Manhattan, Kansas and attended Manhattan High School. He began playing baseball as early as he can remember and was an All-state pitcher as a senior in high school.

He ended up at Cowley after a freshman season at the University of Missouri where he was named an All-American.

With Akin added to a roster that included future Tiger Athletic Hall of Famers Travis Hafner, Josh McMillan, and Dale Pearson, the 1997 Cowley College baseball team captured the program's first-ever World Series title. The team was inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

"He was probably the best mid-term acquisition we ever had," former Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. "He was a great addition to an already deep pitching staff. He was the last piece to the puzzle and made everyone look smart."

Akin became the anchor of the Cowley pitching staff as he went 13-0 with a 1.21 earned-run average during the 1997 season. Akin still holds the school record for wins in a season and ERA in a career.

"Playing for Dave and Darren (Burroughs) that year was the most fun I have had at any time of playing baseball," Akin said. "They demanded effort and hard work, but allowed the players to be themselves if those criteria were met."

The 1997 Tiger baseball team finished as conference and region champions on its way to the program's first-ever World Series title. The Tigers went 33-3 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and finished 53-11 overall as Akin was named the JUCO Player of the Year.

"The World Series team in '97 was special because of the mix of talent, depth, experience, hard-nosed guys that just wanted to win," Akin said. "We also had a great mix of right handed and left handed pitching and hitting that made us a very difficult matchup. The entire trip to the World Series and that experience was the fondest of my memories at Cowley."

Akin won games in the sub-regional and regional tournament before earning two victories at the JUCO World Series. He also pitched the eighth inning of the World Series clinching win.

"That is proof enough he needs to be in the Hall of Fame," Burroughs said. "He just kept getting better and better every time out and was an off the chart competitor. I am glad he is going into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame."

Akin ended up being selected in the First Round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Florida Marlins.

"Being drafted in the First Round was a surreal experience and something that I dreamed of my whole life," Akin said. "It was my goal as a young child."

During Akin's professional career he dealt with elbow injuries and was never able to fully reach his potential and goals. He played four years in the minors and two more in Independent baseball, before jumping into coaching and finishing his degree.

Akin was the pitching coach for University of Mount Olive (DII, North Carolina) from 2003-2009, and helped them become DII National Champs in 2008. During his time at the school he had 11 pitchers drafted professionally.

Akin is currently a Fitness Director for a Physical Therapy and Fitness Center in Manhattan, Kansas. He also is a coach for the Barn Baseball Academy for select high school baseball players.

He and his wife, Tracy, have three boys Jace (14), Garrett (10), and Bo (8).

Akin is looking forward to returning to Ark City to celebrate this honor with friends and family.

"It is a huge honor to be inducted into Cowley's hall of Fame, and I could not be more excited and prouder to join the group of inductees," Akin said. "I am hopeful that my grandfather, Cecil Powers (94) can be in attendance as he was a huge supporter of me and came to every Cowley home game that I pitched, and also excited for my parents who sacrificed a lot and gave me every opportunity to chase the baseball dream."