Wichita, Kans- The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission released the Watch List for the 2011 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza.

Forty-two catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches.  Because the award is given annually to the top division one catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 6, 2011.
Mr. Bench presented the 2010 award to TCU catcher, Bryan Holaday. Yasmani Grandal of the University of Miami and Jose Iglesias of Coastal Carolina University were also finalists. Twelve former Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award finalists are currently playing in Major League Baseball.

2011 Watch List

Milan Adams, JR – University of Rhode Island
Jett Bandy, JR – University of Arizona
Brock Bennett, SR – University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa
Alexander Black, SR – Coppin State University
Dan Burant, JR – The University of Akron
Tony Caldwell, SR – Auburn University
Curt Casali, SR – Vanderbilt University
Matt Colantonio, SR –  Brown University
Chad Comer, SR – University of Texas at Arlington
Joshua Cryer, SR – Southeastern Louisiana University
Taylor Davis, JR – Morehead State University
Jeremy Dowdy, JR –  Appalachian State University
Frank Esposito, SR – Seton Hall University
J.J. Ethel, SR – University of Louisville
Chris Forsten, JR – William & Mary
Brett Frantini, JR – Northern Illinois University
Kevin Gonzalez, SR – Texas A&M University
Chase Graskewicz, SO – Kansas State University
Chuck Howard, SR – New Mexico State University
Steven Keller, JR – California State University, Northridge
Ralph Keppler, JR – The University of Albany
Matt Koch, JR – Loyola Marymount University
Rafael Lopez, SR – Florida State University
David Lyon, JR – Kent State University
Kyle Mahoney, SR – High Point University
James McCann, JR – University of Arkansas
A.J. Miller, SR – Lafayette College
Chris O’Brien, JR – Wichita State University
Peter O’Brien, JR – Bethune-Cookman University
Tyler Ogle, JR – University of Oklahoma
Kevin Plawecki, SO – Purdue University
Matt Reistetter,  FR – Hofstra University
Matt Rice, SR – Western Kentucky University
Ryan Schlater, SR – Bowling Green State University
Andrew Stumph, SO – Texas State University
Andrew Susac, SO – Oregon State University
Beau Taylor, JR – University of Central Florida
Derek Trent, SR – East Tennessee State University
Chris Walker, SR – Fordham University
J.T. Watkins, JR – United States Military Academy (Army)
Zach Wright, JR – East Carolina University
Mike Zunino, SO – University of Florida

A note about the award:
The annual award is to honor those athletes that serve as a team’s starting catcher in at least 75% of the games. Nominees that end up playing primarily another position, such as designated hitter, or those that split their time with another catcher in a 50/50 situation will be disqualified from semifinalist selection. Although we acknowledge the talent of those athletes, it does not fall in line with our guidelines and they will not proceed in the voting process.

Honor Goes To Nation’s Top Catcher

Holaday

A first-team all-conference member, Holaday adds to his list of accolades, which also include second-team All-America honors. He is a three-time MWC Hitter of the Week winner and was also named MVP of both the Houston College Classic and the Mountain West Conference Tournament. He earned a spot on the 11-man College World Series all-tournament team.

Holaday was clearly the leader of the team, helping lead the Horned Frogs to their first-ever appearance in the College World Series. He was one of just two Frogs to start all 68 games this season. He hit .355 with a school-record 99 hits. He tallied 72 runs scored and drove in 53. Holaday hit 24 doubles, one triple and 17 home runs.

Defensively, Holaday guided a staff that posted a 3.55 ERA. As a team, the Frogs surrendered just 30 stolen bases in 57 attempts. Holaday threw out 46% of the runners trying to steal and posted a .988 fielding percentage.

He was one of three finalists for the award, joining Miami’s Yasmani Grandl and Coastal Carolina’s Jose Iglesias at the award’s ceremony in Wichita, Kan.

Previous Winners:
2009 J.T. Wise, University of Oklahoma
2008 Buster Posey, Florida State University
2007 Edward Easley, Mississippi State University
2006 Jake Smith, East Carolina University
2005 Jeff Clement, University of Southern California
2004 Kurt Suzuki, Cal State – Fullerton
2003 Ryan Garko, Stanford University
2002 Jeremy Brown, University of Alabama
2001 Kelly Shoppach, Baylor University
2000 Brad Cresse, Louisiana State University

Former Knight was an All-C-USA Second Team honoree in 2009

Brandon Romans

played three seasons with the Black and Gold, hitting .314 for his career with 17 home runs and 77 RBI.

“I am extremely excited about the addition of Brandon Romans to our coaching staff,” said Rooney. “Brandon was a tremendous collegiate player and understands the expectations of this program. To have another alum on our staff means a great deal to me. Due to his diverse playing background, he will assist in a variety of on-field areas, while serving as our camp coordinator.”

Romans saw time in 131 career games with 103 starts as a catcher and outfielder for the Knights from 2007-09. He came to UCF after one year at Birmingham-Southern, and progressed every season leading up to his standout senior campaign. Last year, he was selected to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, which is given out to the nation’s top catcher. Although he spent most of his time in the outfield, he went on to tie for sixth in single-season history with 14 homers.

Also in 2009, Romans was voted onto the All-Conference USA Second Team by going .333 at the plate with 49 RBI, 116 total bases and a .595 slugging percentage. He walked 25 times and struck out on only 15 occasions. Romans held a .329 average as a junior while posting a .989 fielding percentage, and went .274 at the dish in 2007.

After his UCF career, Romans suited up for the Rockford RiverHawks of the Frontier League in the summer of 2009.

UCF now has two former players working on the staff, as Nick Choto (2007-09) was named the director of baseball operations last summer.

(Release)