DALLAS – Samford designated hitter/pitcher C.K. Irby and Western Carolina shortstop Aaron Attaway were among 40 of the nation’s elite collegiate baseball players listed as a national semifinalists for the 2013 Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton Foundations, as released by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). The award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting.

All told, the candidates hail from 17 different conferences and 31 different schools. The Southeastern Conference leads the way with 10 semifinalists, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with six, Pac-12 with five and the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Colonial Athletic Association and Southern with two.

Every position on the diamond is represented, including seven starting pitchers, five first basemen, five shortstops, four catchers, four third basemen, four outfielders, four relief pitchers, three second basemen, two designated hitters and two utility players.

Attaway, who is currently amidst a career-long 15-game hitting streak, leads the SoCon in both base hits with 87 and runs scored with 64. He ranks third on the team with 15 doubles and is second with 11 home runs and 49 RBI. A Morganton, N.C., product, Attaway is hitting .358 after Thursday night’s win to rank seventh in the SoCon.

Earlier this season, Attaway was named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list for an award that goes to the nation’s top collegiate shortstop.

Irby enters play Friday hitting a .392 with 15 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 56 RBIs. On the mound, Irby is 7-5 with a 4.59 ERA. He has thrown two complete games and has struck out 86 batters.

This year is the 27th year of the Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton Foundations. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 6. The 2013 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the third year.  The winner will be unveiled on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. CT, the opening day of the 2013 CWS.

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award.  Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.