WICHITA, Kan. (NCBWA) – Forty-five players have been
named to the midseason watch list for the eighth 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.
San Diego's Michael Wagner headlines the nominees for the 2012
award. Wagner leads the nation with 18 saves in 22 appearances.
He has pitched 35 innings with 31 strikeouts and is 1-1 with a 1.03
ERA.
Among the other most notable nominees are 2011 Stopper of the
Year Award winner Corey Knebel of Texas and preseason All-America
selections Tony Bryant of Oregon State, Caleb Reed of Mississippi
State, Austin Maddox of Florida and Nick Wittgren of Purdue.
The SEC led the way with eight pitchers on the midseason watch
list, while the ACC had five pitchers on the list. Eighteen conferences
are represented on the list.
2012 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST |
R.J. Alvarez |
Florida Atlantic |
Jr. |
Barrett Astin |
Arkansas |
So. |
Jake Barrett |
Arizona State |
Jr. |
Robert Benincasa |
Florida State |
Jr. |
Nick Blount |
Tennessee |
Jr. |
Tony Bryant |
Oregon State |
Jr. |
Tyler Burgess |
Missouri State |
Fr. |
Chase Byerly |
Butler |
Jr. |
J.T. Chargois |
Rice |
Jr. |
Scott Coffman |
New Mexico State |
Sr. |
Blake Dieterich |
Georgia |
Jr. |
Michael Dimock |
Wake Forest |
Sr. |
Matt Duncan |
Morehead State |
Jr. |
Cale Elam |
Wichita State |
So. |
E.J. Encinosa |
Miami |
Jr. |
Garrett Fanchier |
Belmont |
Sr. |
Matt Gardner |
Nevada |
Sr. |
Mike Gomez |
FIU |
Jr. |
Nick Goody |
LSU |
Jr. |
Trevor Gott |
Kentucky |
So. |
Scott Griggs |
UCLA |
Jr. |
Preston Hatcher |
Western Carolina |
Jr. |
Brett Huber |
Ole Miss |
Jr. |
Nathan Hyatt |
Appalachian State |
Sr. |
Owen Jones |
Portland |
Sr. |
Corey Knebel |
Texas |
So. |
Kenny Long |
Illinois State |
Sr. |
Stefan Lopez |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Michael Lorenzen |
Cal State Fullerton |
So. |
Austin Maddox |
Florida |
Jr. |
Mason Marshall |
BYU |
Fr. |
Tanner Merritt |
East Carolina |
So. |
Michael Morin |
North Carolina |
Jr. |
Chris O'Grady |
George Mason |
Jr. |
David Peterson |
College of Charleston |
Sr. |
Robbie Powell |
Stetson |
Sr. |
Dustin Quattrocchi |
SIUE |
Sr. |
Caleb Reed |
Mississippi State |
Sr. |
Joe Rogers |
UCF |
Jr. |
Derek Self |
Louisville |
Sr. |
Jimmie Sherfy |
Oregon |
So. |
Chad Sobotka |
USC Upstate |
Fr. |
Justin Thompson |
Virginia |
Sr. |
Michael Wagner |
San Diego |
So. |
Nick Wittgren |
Purdue |
Jr. |
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made
by baseball sports information/media relation contacts and more
than 90 nominations were received. 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 start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with
this year's recipient to be announced during the 2012 College World
Series.
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, San Diego State's Addison
Reed grabbing the honor in 2009, Texas' Chance Ruffin earning the
honor in 2010 and Texas freshman Corey Knebel winning it last season.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to
the nation's top player. It also selects All-America Teams for
all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division
I and 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
Tami Cutler at Wichita State at 316-978-5559 or Russ Anderson at
Conference USA at 214-774-1300.
2012 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Tues., Jan. 31: Preseason Watch List
• Thurs., April 19: Midseason Watch List
• Tues., June 5: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• Fri., June 15: NCBWA Stopper of the Year announced (Omaha, Neb.)
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