DALLAS (NCBWA) Thirty players have been named to the midseason
watch list for the second annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Wednesday. The award
will be given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.
Of
the 30 pitchers who make up the midseason watch list, 16 are ranked among
the nation's Top 25 overall relievers with at least eight saves so far this
year, including Don Czyz of Kansas who leads the nation with 13 shutdowns.
Mercer's Andrew Urena has posted 12 saves, while Vinnie Pestano (Cal
State Fullerton) and Ben Hunter (Wake Forest) have each collected 11 saves.
Among those hurlers with 10 shutdowns are Joe Roberts (Toledo), Blair Erickson
(UC Irvine), Josh McLaughlin (College of Charleston) and Link Saunders (The
Citadel). A pair of servicemen appear on the list, with both Milan Dinga
of Army and Ryan Hefner of Navy making the cut.
The 2006 midseason watch list represents 15 conferences, led by four
players from the Atlantic Coast, and three from the Big West, Pac 10, and
Southeastern conferences. The Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Metro Atlantic,
Patriot and Southern each have two players represented, while the Atlantic
Sun, Horizon, Mid American, Missouri Valley, and Western Athletic all have
one player.
"These pitchers have some of the most exciting arms in college baseball,"
said NCBWA President Todd Lamb, Assistant Athletics Communications Director
at The Ohio State University. "We are looking to build upon the success
of last year's award, and continue to generate some recognition for the
nation's outstanding relief pitchers."
Nominations were made by each school's baseball sports information contact.
A mid-season release, including the national saves leaders, will be updated
during the week of April 17. At the end the regular season, the Division
I leader in saves and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected
as the award's finalists. These finalists will be released on Wednesday,
May 31, just prior to the beginning of NCAA regional play.
From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee will select
a winner. The 2nd annual winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 7,
two days prior to the beginning of NCAA super regional action.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's
top player. It also selects a Division I All-America Team, Division I and
III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division
III Players of the Year.
For more information on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year, contact
Dave Fanucchi at USA
Baseball at 919-474-8721 (Ext. 210) or
Russ Anderson at Conference
USA at 214-774-1351.