Baseball Southern Conference

SoCon baseball players on awards watch list

WICHITA, Kan. - The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the official watch list for the 2005 Johnny Bench Award today and among the nominees is Elon's Drew Davis. Thirty-seven catchers from 16 conferences were nominated for the award. Because the award is given annually to the top National Collegiate Catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 2.

Davis, a junior from Salisbury, N.C., was named the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Southern Conference by Baseball America prior to the start of the 2005 season. Through 16 games this season, Davis is hitting .322 with 16 runs scored, 12 RBI and three doubles. He has an on base percentage of .462 and is slugging .396. Behind the plate, Davis has caught three of eight potential base stealers and has allowed only one passed ball to help the Phoenix to a 12-4 start.

The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 17. A national voting panel will then determine the three finalists at the end of May. The finalists will be announced on June 1 prior to the NCAA Regionals. A final vote among the panel will occur during the College World Series and all finalists will be brought to Wichita where the winner will be announced at the 8th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 29.

Below is the current watch list:

Jordan Abruzzo - So University of San Diego
Brian Baisley - Jr University of South Florida
Joe Burke - Sr St. John's University
Andrew Butera - Jr University of Central Florida
Aaron Cheesman - Sr Florida State University
Donald Cheney - So Morehead State University
Jeff Clement - Jr University of Southern California
Ben Crabtree - Sr Ohio University
John Curtis - So California State University-Fullerton
Kyle Dahlberg - Sr Texas Christian University
Drew Davis - Jr Elon University
Chris Denove - Jr University of California-Los Angeles
Nick Derba - So Manhattan College
Greg Dini - Sr Tulane University
Jake Elder - Sr University of Minnesota
Neall French - Jr University of Cincinnati
Tuffy Gosewisch - Sr Arizona State University
Jared Greenwood - Sr Western Carolina University
Barry Gunther - Sr University of Mississippi
Brett Hayes - Jr University of Nevada
Brian Hernandez - Jr Vanderbilt University
Justin Hoban - So University of Maryland-Eastern Shore
Nick Hundley - Jr University of Arizona
Brian Jeroloman - So University of Florida
Matt Kalafatis - Sr University of California-Santa Barbara
Matt McBride - So Lehigh University
Joe Michalski - Sr George Washington University
Caleb Moore - Sr East Tennessee State University
Sean Richardson - Sr University of Kansas
Chris Robinson - Jr University of Illinois
Richard Russell - Jr Marshall University
John Slone - Sr Miami University (OH)
Taylor Teagarden - Jr University of Texas
Kiel Thibault - Jr Gonzaga University
Brian Valichka - Jr University of Delaware
Kris Welker - Sr University of Iowa
Schuyler Williamson - Sr United States Military Academy (Army)

Stopper of the Year

Charleston, S.C. -- College of Charleston junior closer Brett Harker is one of 30 pitchers that have been named to the initial watch list for the inaugural National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Wednesday. The award will be given annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I.

Harker, who led the SoCon and set a school record with 13 saves last season, is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA over three appearances this spring.

Davidson's Jay Heafner and Georgia Southern's Steve Cogswell are also on the list.

Fifteen pitchers who make up the initial 2005 watch list were ranked among the nation's Top 50 at the end of the 2004 season. Cal-Irvine's Blair Erickson has the most saves of any pitcher on the watch list after finishing second in the nation with 17 saves behind South Carolina's Chad Blackwell, who finished the year with 20, three saves short of the NCAA season record. Santa Clara's Anthony Rea and College of Charleston's Brett Harker each had 13 saves a season ago, while Davidson's Jay Heafner had 11. A total of eight pitchers that appear on the 2005 watch list finished last season with 10 or more saves.

The 2005 watch list represents 15 conferences, led by three players from each of the Atlantic Coast, Atlantic 10, Big Ten, Pac-10 and Southern conferences. The Big 12, Big South, Conference-USA, Mid-American and Southeastern conferences each have two players representing their leagues, while the Big East, Big West, Missouri Valley, West Coast and Western Athletic conferences each have one player.

"Relief pitching is a component of the college game that is just as important as starting pitching, hitting or defense," Mike Montoro, NCBWA President, said when the creation of the award was announced. "It is an area that is often overlooked and underappreciated. Because of that, the NCBWA board believed that now was an appropriate time to initiate such an award. We are excited that this important part of the game is being recognized with a national award this season."

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 18. 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 first finalists. These finalists will be released on Wednesday, June 1, 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 first annual winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 8, two days prior to the beginning of NCAA super regional action.

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Xanthus-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.

The Initial 2005 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List
Player Class R/LHP University
Byron Binda Sr. RHP Coastal Carolina
Richard Boothe Sr. RHP Eastern Michigan
Steve Cogswell Sr. RHP Georgia Southern
J. Brent Cox Jr. RHP Texas
John Cronin Sr. RHP Richmond
Joey Devine Jr. RHP N.C. State
Blair Erickson So. RHP UC-Irvine
Trey Fausnaugh So. RHP Ohio State
Derek Feldkamp Jr. RHP Michigan
John Gaub So. LHP Minnesota
Brian Halford Jr. RHP Louisville
Craig Hansen Jr. RHP St. John's
Brett Harker So. RHP College of Charleston
Jay Heafner Jr. RHP Davidson
Brad Kilby Sr. LHP San Jose State
Casey Lambert So. LHP Virginia
Mick Lefort Sr. RHP Rhode Island
Darren O'Day Jr. RHP Florida
Brian Pellegrini So. RHP St. Bonaventure
Anthony Rea Sr. RHP Santa Clara
Kevin Rhodes Jr. RHP East Carolina
Derek Roach So. LHP Wichita State
Adam Simon Jr. RHP UCLA
Darek Stanfield Sr. RHP Akron
Will Startup Jr. LHP Georgia
Matt Swanson Sr. RHP California
Jon Wilson Jr. RHP Winthrop
Robert Woodard So. RHP North Carolina
Abe Woody Jr. RHP Baylor
Zechry Zinicola So. RHP Arizona State