IRVINE, Calif. (NCBWA) – Forty-five players have been
named to the midseason watch list for the sixth annual National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award,
given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, as
announced by the association Thursday.
Leading the elite field with a nation-best 11 saves is Virginia's
Kevin Arico. The junior right-hander owns a 2.37 ERA and had registered
27 strikeouts in 19.0 innings pitched.
Also included on this year's midseason watch list is 2009 finalist
Matty Ott of LSU (0-0, 2.70), who ranks second in the nation with
10 saves. Last year, Ott, the 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year, set
a new high for the most single-season saves in LSU history with
16 and carried his team to a national championship. Oklahoma's Ryan
Duke (0-1, 1.59) and Appalachian State's Chris Patterson (2-1, 0.77)
each hold 10 saves apiece, tying them for second in the country
with Ott.
The Big 12 Conference leads the way with six players named to
the midseason watch list. The ACC, Pac-10, SEC and Southland Conference
have four pitchers each on this year's watch list, while the Big
East Conference is represented by three players. In all, 20 conferences
are showcased in this year's midseason watch list.
2010 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST |
Pitcher |
School |
Cl. |
James Allen |
Kansas State |
So. |
Kevin Arico |
Virginia |
Jr. |
Billy Barber |
Richmond |
Jr. |
DJ Baxendale |
Arkansas |
Fr. |
Lance Baxter |
South Alabama |
Sr. |
Brett Bochy |
Kansas |
Jr. |
Russell Brewer |
Vanderbilt |
Jr. |
Andrew Burkett |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
Garret Carruth |
Texas State |
Sr. |
Kevin Chapman |
Florida |
Jr. |
Adam Cimber |
Washington |
Fr. |
Adam Conley |
Washington State |
So. |
Rye Davis |
Western Kentucky |
So. |
Ryan Duke |
Oklahoma |
Jr. |
Austin Fleet |
Coastal Carolina |
Fr. |
Chris Franklin |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Tyler Gebler |
Rutgers |
Fr. |
Dan Gentzler |
Maryland |
Jr. |
David Gutierrez |
Miami |
Sr. |
Matt Hauser |
San Diego |
Sr. |
Tom Heithoff |
Evansville |
Sr. |
Neil Holland |
Louisville |
Jr. |
Jon Ivie |
Belmont |
Jr. |
Josh Janway |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
Chris Kaminski |
Jacksonville |
Jr. |
Dan Klein |
UCLA |
So. |
Ben Rowen |
Virginia Tech |
Sr. |
Patrick Lawson |
Charlotte |
Sr. |
Drew Mahaffey |
The Citadel |
Jr. |
Kevin McKague |
Army |
Jr. |
David McKnight |
BYU |
Jr. |
Kevin Munson |
James Madison |
Jr. |
Kyle Necke |
UC Irvine |
Sr. |
Matty Ott |
LSU |
So. |
Chris Patterson |
Appalachian State |
Sr. |
Brooks Pinckard |
Baylor |
So. |
Nick Pepitone |
Tulane |
Jr. |
Ryne Purcell |
Eastern Kentucky |
Jr. |
Chance Ruffin |
Texas |
Jr. |
Gera Sanchez |
New Mexico |
So. |
Chad Sheppard |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Seth Simmons |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
John Soldinger |
Manhattan |
Fr. |
John Stilson |
Texas A&M |
So. |
Jordan Swagerty |
Arizona State |
So. |
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 2, prior to start of NCAA
regional tournament competition. The NCBWA's All-America Committee
then will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced
on the opening day of the College World Series on June 19.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year
Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006,
Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia's
Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008 and San Diego State's Addison
Reed grabbing the honor last season.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, also presents the Dick Howser Trophy
to the nation's top player in addition to naming a Division I All-America
Team, Division I and Division 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
Julie St. Cyr at the Big West Conference at 949-261-2525 or Russ
Anderson at Conference USA at 214-774-1300.
2010 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Thurs., Jan. 28: Preseason Watch List
• Thurs., April 15: Midseason Watch List
• Wed., June 2: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• Sat., June 19: NCBWA Stopper of the Year announced
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