Hyatt Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List

WICHITA, Kan. - Appalachian State University closer Nathan Hyatt (Brevard, N.C./Brevard) is one of 45 pitchers nationwide that has been named to the official watch list for the 2012 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year award, the NCBWA announced on Thursday.

In his first season in the closer's role, Hyatt has been perfect in eight save opportunities with a 4.50 ERA and .259 opponents' batting average in 14 appearances. Aside from unusually sub-par performances in wins over Davidson (March 11) and The Citadel (March 18), the right-handed junior has been nearly untouchable, allowing just one run (0.71 ERA) on seven hits (.152 opp. BA) and striking out 17 over 12 appearances. He turned in perhaps his most dominating showing of the season last Friday at Georgia Southern, when he struck out all four batters that he faced in the ninth inning (one reached on a wild pitch) to preserve the Mountaineers' 5-1 victory.

Hyatt's eight saves are tied for 16th nationally. The eight saves are also already good for a tie for fourth in Appalachian single-season history and tied for seventh in the program's career annals.

The 45 pitchers on the official watch list were selected from 90 nominations received by the NCBWA. From the list, five finalists will be selected on June 6. The winner will be announced during the 2012 College World Series, which is set for June 15-26 in Omaha, Neb.

Hyatt and the first-place Mountaineers return to action on Friday when they open a three-game Southern Conference series versus Furman at ASU's Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.

 

David Peterson Named To NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List

WICHITA, Kan. - College of Charleston senior closer David Peterson has been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, the organization announced Thursday.

Peterson joins 44 other players on the watch list for the eighth annual award given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 6, prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.

A native of Walnut Creek, Calif., Peterson moved to the bullpen this season after being a weekend starter for the Cougars. Peterson has tallied a SoCon-best nine saves, including a crucial two-inning save over No. 8 South Carolina on Tuesday night.

The senior has posted an ERA of 2.49 this season with 26 strikeouts. He currently ranks fifth all-time at CofC with 197 career strikeouts.

 

Hatcher Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
Junior RHP has a 5-0 record and seven saves in 2012

Wichita, Kansas - Western Carolina junior closer Preston Hatcher has been named to the official watch list for the 2012 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award. The Atlanta, Ga., native is among 45 pitchers across the nation selected to the NCBWA's watch list.

The 45 pitchers on the official watch list were selected from 90 nominations received by the NCBWA. From the list, five finalists will be selected on June 6. The winner will be announced during the 2012 College World Series, which is set for June 15-26 in Omaha, Neb.

Hatcher, who has settled into his new role in the WCU bullpen very well, boasts a perfect 5-0 record with seven saves in his 19 seasonal appearances. He has allowed just 19 base hits including only four for extra bases while limiting foes to a .176 batting average against.

Hatcher's seven saves already ranks him tied for eighth in the school's single-season record book, while he stands tied for third in the Southern Conference in both saves and in games finished (17). The right-hander has struck out 39 batters in 32.2 innings tossed on the season with only three earned runs allowed among the five surrendered on the season.

This year, Hatcher earned the save in WCU's upset road win over eighth-ranked Georgia, tossing an inning and two thirds of hitless, scoreless relief while fanning two Bulldog batters. He struck out a season-high five batters on a season-long four innings of relief in a home win over UNCG. Hatcher has secured at least one strikeout in 17 of his 19 appearances with WCU winning 15 of those games.

Sitting amidst a four-way tie for first-place, Western Carolina (25-12, 10-5 SoCon) returns to action on Friday evening at 6:00 pm CT / 7:00 pm ET on the road in Birmingham, Ala., as it opens a three-game series against the Samford Bulldogs (22-15, 10-8). All three games will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network and can be heard online at CatamountSports.com.