LINCOLN, Neb. (NCBWA) - In a year when pitching has a solid chance of being dominant, the eighth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason 2008 All-America team reflects the plethora of mound aces returning for the upcoming campaign.
With the unified Feb. 22 earliest start date for Division I teams, returning 2007 NCBWA Pro-Line Athletic All-America hurlers Brian Matusz (10-3, 2.85 ERA) of San Diego, Jacob Thompson (11-0, 1.50 ERA) of Virginia and Preston Guilmet (12-2, 1.87 ERA) of Arizona join fellow '08 returnees Ryan Berry of Rice, Josh Satow of Arizona State and Scott Gorgen of UC Irvine in heading possible the deepest first team since the NCBWA started its preseason selections prior to 2001. Two-time NCAA World Series champions Oregon State added righty Mike Stutes (12-4) to a second team mound staff which had a composite record of 54-14 and almost 1.2 strikeouts per inning among the six starting pitchers.
There also is no shortage of stellar relief pitchers among 2007 preseason All-America returnee Cole St. Clair of World Series entry Rice, Eryk McConnell of N.C. State and Paul Koss of Southern California on the first unit.
Lest readers forget any of the "big bangers" on offense, 2007 Division I home run champion OF Kyle Russell (28 dingers) of Texas joins the likes of returning pre- and postseason All-America 3B Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt and .404-hitting 1B Brett Wallace of Arizona State (another 2007 A-A returnee) on a hard slugging first team.
Talented utility players such as Michigan's Zach Putnam (.330 average, 8 homers, 59 RBI, 8-5 pitching record, played key role in Wolverines' upset over top-ranked Vanderbilt in the '07 NCAA Nashville Regional) and San Diego's Josh Romanski (10-1 pitching mark, .335 batting average) add even more pre-2008 credibility to the dream team.
The stellar outfield also includes Rice CWS participant Aaron Luna and Vanderbilt slugger Dominic de la Osa. Catcher Petey Paramore is one of five Arizona State position players or pitchers featured on the eighth annual NCBWA preseason edition.
There are 19 conferences and 39 schools represented on the three units, which form the base for the '08 Pro-Line Athletic All-America squad and the 22nd annual Dick Howser Trophy, presented by the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Area chamber of Commerce and voted upon by the NCBWA membership. The Howser Trophy will be awarded on Saturday morning prior to Game One of the NCAA World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., on June 14, 2008, at the Omaha Press Club.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Player of the Year Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-American awards, publication and writing contests.