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53 Catchers On The Initial List

Illinois catcher Aaron Johnson is among the 53 catchers on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List.

Wichita, KS– The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission has announced the official watch list for the 2010 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza.  A total of 53 catchers were nominated for the honor by their coaches.  The award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists, which will be announced on May 19th.  Ballots will then be sent to a national voting panel at the end of May to determine the three finalists for the award.  Finalists will be announced on June 2nd prior to the NCAA baseball Regionals and the Major League Baseball Draft.  A final vote will take place during the College World Series, and the award will be presented at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1st.

See the complete Watch List below.

2010 Coleman Company – Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza Watch List
Jeff Arnold SR University of Louisville
Jared Avchen SR East Carolina University
Chris Berset SR University of Michigan
Alex Black JR Coppin State University
Ty Boyles SR Gardner-Webb University
Ross Brayton SR Cal Poly
Tyler Bullock SR Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Dan Burkhart JR Ohio State University
Tony Caldwell JR Auburn University
Chad Comer JR University of Texas at Arlington
Josh Cryer JR Southeastern Louisiana University
Kevin David JR Oklahoma State University
Aaron Dudley SR University of Toledo
Justin Echeverria SR Stony Brook University
Tyler Elkins SR Bowling Green State
Kyle Enders SR University of South Carolina
Erick Fernandez JR Georgetown University
Kevin Flynn JR Hofstra University
Blake Forsythe JR University of Tennessee
Dean Forthum SR Columbia University
Micah Gibbs JR Louisiana State University
Victor Gomez JR Marshall University
Travis Graves SR University of Southern Mississippi
Ben Heath JR Pennsylvania State University
Bryan Holaday SR Texas Christian University
Jose Iglesias SR Coastal Carolina University
Ed Jayjack SR University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Aaron Johnson SR University of Illinois
Jim Klocke SR Southeast Missouri State
Kyle Knudson SR University of Minnesota
Matt Koch SO Loyola Marymount University
Francis Larson SR UC Irvine
Rafael Lopez JR Florida State University
Myckie Lugbauer SR University of Maine
Kyle Mahoney JR High Point University
Jeremy Mayo JR Texas Tech University
James McCann SO University of Arkansas
Cameron McConnell JR University of Notre Dame
Mike Murray SR Wake Forest University
Rafael Neda JR University of New Mexico
John Nester JR Clemson University
Marcus Nidiffer SR University of Kentucky
Joe Oliveira SR University of the Pacific
Tyler Ogle SO University of Oklahoma
Dominic Piazza JR Cal State Northridge
Nick Rickles SO Stetson University
Cameron Rupp JR University of Texas
Joey Stevens SR Eastern Kentucky University
Beau Taylor SO University of Central Florida
John Turk SR University of Akron
Cody Stanley JR UNC Wilmington
Chris Wallace SR University of Houston

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Gaucho slate features nine games vs. 2009 postseason teams

UCSB Head Coach Bob Brontsema

UCSB also will play road games at Stanford – a 2008 College World Series participant – USC, UC Irvine, Cal Poly, Long Beach State, San Jose State, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.

Complete 2010 UC Santa Barbara Schedule (PDF)

“We’re looking forward to a challenging non-conference schedule to prepare us for the always-difficult Big West Conference season,” UCSB head coach Bob Brontsema said.

The Gauchos, 29-23 a season ago, return two players from their school-record nine players that were drafted in June. Left-handed pitcher Mario Hollands and infielder Matt Valaika, both chosen in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, will return and are expected to lead the Gauchos this year. Joining them will be All-American pitcher Mike Ford, all-conference honoree catcher Marty Mullins, senior Gunnar Terhune and top newcomers left-hander Kevin Gelinas and right-hander Nick Loredo.

The Big West Conference, which was recently ranked as the sixth-best in the nation, according to RPI ratings and is also a league that had two nationally-ranked teams in the NCAA postseason and has featured at least one team in the College World Series in eight of the past 11 seasons. UCSB led the conference with nine players drafted by Major League Baseball teams this past June, including the conference’s top player selected, Joe Gardner (third round, Cleveland Indians).

(Release)

New Pact Runs Through 2014

ECU Skipper Billy Godwin

Godwin has guided the Pirates to three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances in four seasons, and in 2009, led ECU to its first Super Regional since 2004 after claiming the Greenville Regional title at Clark-LeClair Stadium. In addition, he joined Keith LeClair on a short list of East Carolina coaches to record three-straight 40-plus win seasons after posting a league-best 46-20 mark last spring that also included a Conference USA regular season crown.

“Coach Godwin’s teams have achieved a great deal of success on the baseball field, but just as importantly, he and his program have embraced both East Carolina University’s values and Coach Keith LeClair’s vision for ECU Baseball,” Holland said. “The coaching staff and players represent the best of intercollegiate athletics in all they do and make us proud every time they take the field. We are pleased to do everything we can to keep Billy Godwin as our coach – he is a perfect fit for this institution.”

His 2009 squad spent 19 consecutive weeks in the national polls and ranked as one of the most prolific offenses in the nation – finishing with a NCAA-best 814 hits and standing among national leaders in runs (4th/565), doubles (6th/154), home runs (7th/108), slugging percentage (12th/.546) and batting average (15th/.339). For the third consecutive season, the Pirates topped Conference USA in home runs after belting a school-record 108 to follow 89 and 68 round-tripper totals in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The 2009 C-USA Keith LeClair Coach-of-the-Year honoree has tutored 25 all-conference performers and four various player-of-the-year selections, and produced a total of 15 Major League Baseball draft choices since 2006.

“I would like to thank (ECU Chancellor) Dr. Ballard, Terry Holland and the Board of Trustees for their support and outstanding leadership,” Godwin said. “I am humbled and honored to be the head baseball coach at East Carolina. The commitment to our baseball program is phenomenal from our administration to our loyal Pirate fans. Our coaching staff is very excited about the future of Pirate Baseball and the continued ability to compete for championships.”

Godwin, who was elevated to the head coaching position during the fall of 2005 after a brief tenure as an assistant, has compiled an overall record of 161-90 as East Carolina’s skipper.

(Release)

Gopher Two-Sport Star Out With Foot Injury

Eric Decker

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s sputtering offense sure didn’t need this: Star wide receiver Eric Decker will miss the rest of the regular season because of a sprained left foot.

If the Gophers (4-4 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) get in a bowl game and Decker doesn’t need surgery, the school’s all-time leading receiver could play once more. Otherwise, Decker’s college career is done. He hurt his arch last Saturday.

“It’s tough right now,” quarterback Adam Weber said. “You have all these expectations for the season, and it’s a big blow.”

Decker sprained his left ankle last Nov. 1 in a loss to Northwestern, was unable to contribute in the following two games and the Gophers didn’t win again. This is a different injury, but the impact is the same.

Decker is one of 10 finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top receiver. He’s a baseball star, too, drafted by the Minnesota Twins in June, and he batted .319 with four home runs and 25 RBIs last spring.

Decker On The Diamond

He is the first Minnesota athlete to letter in football and baseball since 1999, and he’s only the third Minnesota player since 1966 to letter in football and be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.  (He joins Hall of Famer Dave Winfield on that short list.)

Decker was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

The transition to a pro-style, play-action offense after two seasons running the spread has been rough for the Gophers. They’re next to last in the conference with 21.1 points per game and last with 292.8 yards per game after dropping 20-0 and 38-7 decisions to Ohio State and Penn State in successive weeks.

Despite being held down this month by Purdue (three catches, 50 yards), Penn State (one for 42) and Ohio State (three for 27 before the injury), Decker has still accounted for half of Minnesota’s passing yardage and five of Weber’s six touchdown throws. He’s second in the Big Ten with 758 yards receiving.

“I think he’s the best wide receiver in college football, period,” coach Tim Brewster said Tuesday. “You know, it’s tough to replace a guy like that.”

Will the Gophers be all right? Defensive tackle Eric Small, another captain, called Decker the hardest worker on the team. He’s not only their most talented player but also perhaps their most inspiring.

During a loss to Cal, then the nation’s eighth-ranked team, Decker caught eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns with blood all over his face and jersey from a hard hit that opened a gash that needed stitches. He even threw for a score in that game.

“He adds everything you could ever want in a player,” Small said.

(AP and Staff report)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coming off a 42-win season that included a Big Ten championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament, the Ohio State baseball team announced its 2010 captains at its Scarlet and Gray World Series victory dinner Tuesday evening. Seniors Cory Kovanda and Zach Hurley were each voted captains by their peers.

Cory Kovanda (left) and Zach Hurley (right)

“Two quality young men dominated in the captains voting,” coach Bob Todd said. “There really was no question who the team wanted to be captains this year.”

Kovanda, a second baseman from Columbus, has started at second base each of his first three years at Ohio State and hit .341 with 11 doubles and 38 RBI in 2009.

“I’m honored,” Kovanda said. “This team and its chemistry…you cannot ask for more of an honor than to be representing this team. I’m ready to contribute what I can and to lead.”

Hurley, an outfielder from Springboro, Ohio, batted .346 with 12 doubles and led the team with 14 stolen bases his junior season. He was drafted in the 45th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft in June but opted to return to Columbus for his senior year.

“This is such a privilege to be chosen captain,” Hurley said. “This has been a goal of mine since I came here and I am really at a loss for words right now. It is really awesome that your teammates think that much of you. It’s the highest honor you can get.”

In addition, freshman right-handed pitcher Brett McKinney was named rookie captain of the 2009 squad.

Full team practices for the Buckeyes will begin Feb. 1 with the first game slated for Feb. 19 at North Florida.

(Press Release)

Miami Head Coach Jim Morris

Hurricanes Complete 9-inn Scrimmage At Alex Rodriguez Park

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The University of Miami baseball team officially opened fall practice Thursday afternoon, holding a nine-inning intrasquad scrimmage at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The Hurricanes – coming off an NCAA record 37th straight trip to NCAA Regionals in 2009 – enter the fall with a 35-man roster consisting of 21 returning players and 14 newcomers.

“We are excited,” head coach Jim Morris said prior to the start of practice. “We have some holes to fill from the number of players we’ve lost the last few years from our 2008 World Series team but I think we have a talented group heading into the fall.”

After stretching and working through some individual drills, the team spent the rest of the afternoon scrimmaging under clear skies and temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80’s.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us but we have a lot of good, young players,” Morris said. “We have proven that we can go to Omaha with young players or old players so our goals are very high for this club.”

The `Canes return 17 letterwinners from last year’s 38-22 team, including 2009 All-ACC performers Chris Hernandez, Yasmani Grandal and Scott Lawson. In addition, two-time All-ACC performer Eric Erickson returns after missing the 2009 season rehabilitating from an injury.

Erickson re-joins a pitching staff that returns 84 percent of its innings pitched from last season (446 of 531). All three 2009 weekend starters (Hernandez, David Gutierrez and Iden Nazario) are back, in addition to mid-week starter Jason Santana, veteran reliever Michael Rudman and an impressive sophomore class that includes Daniel Miranda, Travis Miller and Sam Robinson. Taylor Wulf – UM’s set-up man to All-America closer Kyle Bellamy last year – also returns to the back end of the bullpen after missing the second half of the 2009 campaign.

Five players return from the starting lineup. Grandal – a 2009 USA National Team member – will enter the 2010 season as one of the nation’s top catchers after hitting a team-high 16 home runs in 2009. Second baseman Lawson is back for his senior year after leading the team in hitting most of last season while sophomores Harold Martinez, Nathan Melendres and Ted Blackman are all back after productive rookie seasons.

The staff has high hopes for the 13-man incoming class that includes six players selected over the summer in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. South Florida products Stephen Perez (18th round/Cincinnati Reds) – a switch-hitting infielder out of Gulliver Prep – and E.J. Encinosa (23rd round/Minnesota Twins) – a big right-handed pitcher out of Coral Park High School – headline the group of six draftees in the group.

In total, the incoming class includes 12 players from the state of Florida and eight from South Florida. The group is made up of five infielders, three left-handed pitchers, three right-handed pitchers and two outfielders.

The entire 2009 fall roster consists of six seniors, five juniors, 11 sophomores and 13 freshmen.

With UM’s fall break beginning on Friday, the team will hold a morning practice in lieu of its typical late afternoon session.

(Press Release)

2009 National Champions Back On The Field

Seven position players that started games last year are back for the 2010 season, including all-American senior DH/outfielder Blake Dean, junior catcher Micah Gibbs, junior outfielder Leon Landry, sophomore infielder Tyler Hanover, sophomore outfielder Mikie Mahtook, sophomore shortstop Austin Nola, and sophomore infielder Grant Dozar.

LSU returns 10 pitchers that recorded innings last season, including junior right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, a 2009 third-team All-American who was No. 3 in the nation in strikeouts with 159.

Also returning to the pitching staff is ace reliever Matty Ott,  a sophomore right-hander who established the LSU single-season saves record last year with 16 and was voted the SEC Co-Freshman of the Year.

The veterans are complemented by a talented class of 13 newcomers, including five players that have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. LSU’s incoming class was ranked No. 3 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball magazine annual recruiting survey.

“I believe very strongly that we are going to be successful with this group of players,” Mainieri said. “There’s no doubt we can win with the kids that are here.”

LSU opens the 2010 season on February 19 versus Centenary in Alex Box Stadium.

(Courtesy LSUsports.net press release)

(Press Release)