LINCOLN, Neb. (NCBWA) – Forty-five relief pitchers are included on the midseason watch list for the fourth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Thursday. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.
The midseason watch list includes four players with double-figure saves totals through April 15, paced by NCAA saves leader Tyler Conn of Southern Miss. The senior lefty has 12 saves, a win and 31 strikeouts in 16 relief appearances and is one of three hurlers on the watch list who have not yielded an earned run in 2008.
Not far behind Conn are 10-save relief specialists Joshua Fields (1-1, 0.00) of Georgia , Colin Lynch (0-1, 2.76) of St. John’s , and Virginia ’s Michael Schwimer (1-1, 1.26). Conn , Fields and Mississippi State ’s Aaron Weatherford have not allowed an earned run through the first half of the season.
The 2008 midseason watch list features teams representing 19 athletic conferences as well as one independent team. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads the way with six pitchers on the honor squad.
| 2008 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST | |||
| Pitcher | School | Cl. | Hometown |
| Tyson Bagley | Dallas Baptist | Sr. | Bakersfield, Calif. |
| Scott Bittle | Mississippi | Jr. | Texarkana, Texas |
| Nick Cassavechia | Baylor | Sr. | Dallas, Texas |
| Zach Calhoon | Texas San Antonio | So. | Spring, Texas |
| Tyler Conn (L) | Southern Miss | Jr. | Ocean Springs, Miss. |
| Chase Dempsay | Houston | Fr. | Baytown, Texas |
| Daniel Edwards | Kansas State | Sr. | Kingwood, Texas |
| Tim Erickson (L) | Lamar | Sr. | Sour Lake, Texas |
| Joshua Fields | Georgia | Sr. | Hull, Ga. |
| Nick Gaudi | Pepperdine | Sr. | Lancaster, Calif. |
| Jim Gilheeney (L) | N.C. State | So. | Johnston, R.I. |
| Thomas Girdwood | Elon | Fr. | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Matt Gorgen | California | Jr. | Clayton, Calif. |
| A.J. Griffin | San Diego | So. | El Cajon, Calif. |
| Carlos Gutierrez | Miami | Jr. | Miami, Fla. |
| Alex Hale | Richmond | Sr. | Omaha, Neb. |
| James Hayes | Rider | So. | Sunrise, Fla. |
| Kyle Heyne | Ball State | Sr. | Coldwater, Ohio |
| Chris Hicks | Georgia Tech | Jr. | Alpharetta, Ga. |
| Greg Johnson | South Alabama | Jr. | Omaha, Neb. |
| Josh Lindblom | Purdue | Jr. | West Lafayette, Ind. |
| Colin Lynch | St. John's | Jr. | Manchester, N.H. |
| Jake McCarter | Oklahoma | Sr. | Kerrville, Texas |
| J.D. Melton | Navy | So. | Myrtle Beach, S.C. |
| Jeremy Nowak | Stony Brook | So. | Cheektowaga, N.Y. |
| Drew O'Neil | Penn State | Jr. | Roswell, Ga. |
| Eric Pettis | UC Irvine | So. | West Hills, Calif. |
| Tommy Rafferty | Arizona State | Sr. | Lorena, Texas |
| Matt Reifsnider | The Citadel | So. | Ormand Beach, Fla. |
| Justin Robichaux | Louisiana-Lafayette | So. | Crowley, La. |
| Kevin Rhoderick | Oregon State | Fr. | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Shawn Sanford | South Florida | So. | Cinnaminson, N.J. |
| Michael Schwimer | Virginia | Sr. | Alexandria, Va. |
| Brian Shaw | Long Beach State | Sr. | Livermore, Calif. |
| Thain Simon | Santa Clara | Fr. | El Dorado Hills, Calif. |
| Travis Starling | Texas A&M | So. | Yoakum, Texas |
| Jason Stoffel | Arizona | So. | Agoura, Calif. |
| Josh Storm | Troy | Jr. | Cottondale, Fla. |
| Payton Tweddale (L) | Charleston Southern | Sr. | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Matt Vaughn | Clemson | Jr | Summerville, S.C. |
| Pat Venditte (L/R) | Creighton | Sr. | Omaha, Neb. |
| Derek Ward | Louisiana-Monroe | Jr. | Lewisville, Ark. |
| Aaron Weatherford | Mississippi State | Jr. | Crystal Springs, Miss. |
| Bryan Woodall | Auburn | Jr. | Phenix City, Ala. |
| Rob Wooten | North Carolina | Sr. | Fremont, N.C. |
| (L) indicates left-handed pitcher | |||
The watch list was compiled from nominations submitted by sports information contacts and conference media relations offices nationwide. At the conclusion of regular season competition, the NCAA Division I saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as the finalists for the award and announced May 28 prior to the start of NCAA regional competition. The winner of the 2008 Stopper of the Year Award will be selected by the NCBWA’s All-America Committee and announced Wednesday, June 4, two days before NCAA Super Regional play begins.
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 Shamus McKnight at the University of Nebraska at 402-472-7772 (Ext. 210).