DALLAS – Three Southern Conference pitchers were among the 59 players named to the midseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday.
 
ETSU's Owen Kovacs, Mercer’s Bryant Olson and Western Carolina's Jonathan Todd earned spots on the list.
 
Kovacs, who is in his fifth season with the Bucs, has had a career year for ETSU so far in 2024 posting a 2-0 record with a 3.12 ERA and six saves. His six saves are the sixth-most in the nation this season, while his .242 batting average against leads all Buccaneer pitchers in 2024.
 
Olson, a junior, has pitched 18.2 innings with a .310 opponent batting average this year and a 3.37 ERA. Over 15 appearances the left-hander has registered seven saves, most in the conference, and has struck out 25 batters.

Todd enters the weekend with a 3.16 seasonal earned run average over 17 combined appearances with one start. He has tossed 25.2 total innings to date, posting a 1-1 overall record with a team-best six saves, tied for the second-most in the SoCon. The Reidsville, N.C., product has limited opponents to just a .172 batting average against, the lowest on the Catamount pitching staff. He ranks second on the WCU squad with 38 strikeouts, averaging 13.3 Ks per nine innings.
 
Relievers who are not on the midseason list still have an opportunity to be named a finalist for the award.
 
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 5 with the winner being named on Friday, June 14 at the 2024 College World Series.
 
2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List

Davis Aiken, College of Charleston, Jr.	Logan Mercado, Oregon, Sr.
Evan Aschenbeck, Texas A&M, Sr.	Noah Manning (3), Troy, Sr.
Micah Ashman (3), Utah, Jr.	Matthew Matthijs, North Carolina, So.
Ethan Bates, Louisiana Tech, Sr.	Will McEntire, Arkansas, R-Sr.
Chris Beilenson, Duke, Gr.	Bradley Mullan, Oregon, Sr.
Mason Burns, Western Kentucky, Sr.	Austin Neal, Lamar, Jr.
Ryan Cabarcas, FIU, R-Sr.	Zachary Nichols, Bryant, Gr.
Zach Cameron, Niagara, Gr.	Bryant Olson, Mercer, Jr.
Chase Centala, UCF, Sr.	Dalton Pence, North Carolina, R-So.
Stone Cushing, BYU, Jr.	Andres Perez, Lamar, Jr.
Chandler David, Sam Houston, Sr.	Owen Pierce, William & Mary, So.
Alton Davis II, Alabama, So.	Anthony Pron, Southern Illinois, Sr.
Nick Davis, Georgetown, Gr.	Ruger Riojas, UTSA, So.
Joey DeChiaro, Rutgers, Gr.	Joshua Romero (2), CSUN, Sr.
Chandler Dorsey, USF, So.	Rashad Ruff, UCLA, Gr.
Tanner Douglass, Portland, So.	Tanner Sagouspe, Cal Poly, R-So.
Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas, Fr.	Brayden Sanders, Memphis, Jr.
Garrett Gainey, South Carolina, Sr.	Brennan Seiber, Vanderbilt, Fr.
Ryan Ginther, Vanderbilt, Jr.	Nate Snead, Tennessee , So.
Jacob Gomez, Old Dominion, Sr.	Jonathan Todd, Western Carolina, Sr.
Simon Gregersen, Indiana State, R-Jr.	Ricky Tibbett, UC Irvine, Gr.
Stone Hewlett, Arkansas, Sr.	Jack VanDoran, LIU, Gr.
Bridger Holmes, Oregon State, Jr.	Mike Villani, Long Beach State, Jr.
Matthew Holzhammer, Louisiana, Jr.	Joe Vogatsky, James Madison, Sr.
Johnny Hummel, Kentucky, Gr.	Nathan Ward, Grand Canyon, Sr.
Owen Kovacs, East Tennessee State, Gr.	Jacob Weatherley, Little Rock, Sr.
LP Langevin, Louisiana, Jr.	Jackson Wentworth, Kansas State, R-So.
Reece Lawler, UIC, R-Jr.	Grant Wood , South Alabama, R-Jr.
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman , East Carolina, Jr.	Brian Zeldin, Georgia, Gr.
Izzak Martinez, UC San Diego, R-Sr.