COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NCBWA) – Seventy-five players have been
named to the initial watch list for the ninth 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 on Friday.
Oregon junior Jimmie Sherfy, a 2012 Stopper of the Year Award
finalist, and Texas junior Corey Knebel, the 2011 winner of the
Stopper of the Year Award, headline the list of preseason
nominees for the 2013 award. Sherfy recorded 19 saves and went
5-3 with a 2.20 ERA and 93 strikeouts as the Ducks advanced to
the 2012 Super Regionals. Last season as a sophomore, Knebel
collected nine saves and went 4-5 with a 2.08 ERA and 68
strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched for the Longhorns.
Joining Sherfy, a first team preseason All-American by the
NCBWA, and Knebel on the watch list is NCBWA 2013 first teamer
Jonathan Holder from Mississippi State and Michael Wagner of San
Diego, a preseason first team selection. Holder had nine saves a
year ago with a 2-1 record and 0.32 ERA in 24 appearances as a
freshman, while Wagner had 19 saves.
Among the other most notable nominees are members of the
NCBWA preseason All-American second team (Michael Lorenzen of
Cal State Fullerton, Tyler Webb of South Carolina, David Berg of
UCLA and Tyler Burgess of Missouri State), along with third team
member Colby Suggs of Arkansas.
The Southeastern Conference and the Pacific-12 Conference led
the way with seven players each on this year’s watch list, while
the Big South had six pitchers on the list..
2013 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST |
Pitcher |
School |
Cl. |
Brady Anderson |
Florida Gulf Coast |
So. |
Barrett Astin |
Arkansas |
Jr. |
Kyle Bartsch |
South Alabama |
Sr. |
David Berg |
UCLA |
So. |
Josh Biggs |
Evansville |
Sr. |
Tony Bryant |
Oregon State |
Sr. |
Michael Burchett |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Nick Burdi |
Louisville |
So. |
Tyler Burgess |
Missouri State |
So. |
Aaron Burke |
Coastal Carolina |
Sr. |
Chase Byerly |
Butler |
Sr. |
Gunnar Carroll |
Army |
Jr. |
Will Chesney |
East Tennessee State |
Jr. |
Pat Christensen |
La Salle |
Sr. |
Adam Cimber |
San Francisco |
Sr. |
Ryan Connolly |
Coastal Carolina |
Sr. |
Bret Dahlson |
Loyola Marymount |
Jr. |
Ryan Deeter |
UCLA |
Jr. |
Josh Dezse |
Ohio State |
Jr. |
Matt Dunbar |
Arizona State |
Sr. |
Todd Eaton |
Southern Illinois |
Jr. |
Eric Eck |
Wofford |
Jr. |
Alex Facundus |
Tulane |
Jr. |
Scott Firth |
Clemson |
Sr. |
Max Garner |
Baylor |
Sr. |
John Garrett |
VMI |
Sr. |
Michael Gomez |
FIU |
Sr. |
Joe Goodman |
High Point |
So. |
John Gorman |
Boston College |
So. |
Trevor Gott |
Kentucky |
Jr. |
Zack Hartman |
UNLV |
Jr. |
Preston Hatcher |
Western Carolina |
Sr. |
Taylor Haydel |
Western Kentucky |
Sr. |
Nate Hill |
Troy |
Sr. |
Dylan Hills |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Jonathan Holder |
Mississippi State |
So. |
Brett Huber |
Ole Miss |
Sr. |
Chris Huffman |
James Madison |
So. |
Kyle Kingsley |
North Dakota State |
Sr. |
Corey Knebel |
Texas |
Jr. |
Clark Labitan |
Virginia Tech |
Sr. |
Steven Leasure |
South Florida |
Sr. |
Brett Loeding |
Northern Kentucky |
Sr. |
Michael Lorenzen |
Cal State Fullerton |
Jr. |
Ryan Mattes |
Campbell |
Sr. |
Justin McCalvin |
Kennesaw State |
So. |
Hobie McClain |
New Mexico |
Sr. |
Ronnie Muck |
Illinois |
Jr. |
Jake Naumann |
Evansville |
Sr. |
James Norwood |
Saint Louis |
So. |
Kenny O'Brien |
George Washington |
Sr. |
Thomas Olson |
Dartmouth |
So. |
Race Parmenter |
UC Irvine |
Sr. |
Drew Reynolds |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
Joel Rinehart |
Navy |
Sr. |
Bradley Roney |
Southern Miss |
So. |
Reid Roper |
Illinois |
So. |
Kyle Ruchim |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
A.J. Salcines |
Miami |
Jr. |
Logan Scott |
California |
Sr. |
Jimmie Sherfy |
Oregon |
Jr. |
Dan Slania |
Notre Dame |
Jr. |
Michael Smith |
Dallas Baptist |
Sr. |
Chad Sobotka |
USC Upstate |
So. |
Colby Suggs |
Arkansas |
Jr. |
Tim Swatek |
Fordham |
Jr. |
David Teasley |
Mercer |
Sr. |
Kellen Urbon |
Cornell |
So. |
A.J. Vanegas |
Stanford |
Jr. |
Dylan Vogt |
Nebraska |
Sr. |
Michael Wagner |
San Diego |
Jr. |
Tyler Webb |
South Carolina |
Sr. |
Nate Williams |
Kansas State |
So. |
Mark Winkelman |
Creighton |
Sr. |
Nate Young |
Elon |
Sr. |
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made
by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The
initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week
of April 16, including the national saves leaders. 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 5, prior to start of
NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee
will select a winner. The ninth annual winner will be announced
in Omaha on Saturday, June 15, the opening day of the 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 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in
2007. Georgia’s Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San
Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas’
Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010. Knebel won in 2011 with
Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in
2012.
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
Judy Willson at the Mountain West Conference at
719-488-4052.
2013 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Thurs., Feb. 7: Preseason Watch List
• Tues., April 23: Midseason Watch List
• Wed., June 5: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• Sat., June 15: NCBWA Stopper of the Year announced (Omaha, Neb.)
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