LINE DRIVES THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASEBALL WRITERS NEWSLETTER (Volume 48, No. 3, Apr. 17, 2009) The President’s Message By NCBWA President Joe Dier NCBWA Membership: With the 2008-09 hoops season now in the record books, the collegiate spotlight is focusing more closely on the nation’s baseball diamonds. Though we’re heading into the final month of the season, there are still plenty of twists and turns ahead on the road to Omaha and the 2009 NCAA College World Series. The NCAA will soon be announcing details of next month’s tournament selection announcements naming the regional host sites (May 24) and the 64-team tournament field (May 25). To date, four different teams have claimed the top spot in the NCBWA’s national Division I polls --- Arizona State, Georgia, LSU, and North Carolina. Several other teams have graced the No. 1 position in other national polls. The NCAA’s mid-April RPI listing has Cal State Fullerton leading the 301-team pack, with 19 teams sporting 25-win records through games of April 12. For the record, New Mexico State tops the wins list with a 30-6 mark. As the conference races heat up from coast to coast, the NCBWA will begin the process for naming its All- America teams and the Divk Howser Trophy (see below). We will have a form going out to conference offices and Division I independents in coming days. Last year’s NCBWA-selected team included 56 outstanding baseball athletes, and we want to have the names of all deserving players on the table for consideration for this year’s awards. Thanks for your participation in the NCBWA’s awards programs and best of luck to all as the race to Omaha heats up over the coming weeks. Joe Dier Mississippi State, NCBWA President NCBWA All-American Nominations Coming Soon Information on the nomination process for the 2009 Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA All-American team and the Dick Howser Trophy will be distributed during the week of April 20. Nomination forms will be emailed to conference offices and to NCBWA members. Here is the timeline: Mon. April 27 First Day of Nominations being Accepted (with stats through games of April 26) Fri., May 1 Deadline for Initial Set of Nominations Tue., May 5 First Ballot e-Mailed to Membership Wed., May 13 Deadline for First Round of Voting Thu., May 14 Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists Announced Wed., May 27 Final Ballot e-Mailed to Membership Tue., June 2 Deadline for Final Round of Voting Wed., June 10 Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA All-American Teams Announced Thu., June 11 National Coach of the Year Announced Sat., June 13 Three Dick Howser Trophy Finalists Announced at College World Series Thu., July 2 Dick Howser Trophy Winner Announced on the College Baseball Awards Show NCBWA Announces Midseason Watch List For 2009 Stopper of Year Award Forty-five relief pitchers are included on the midseason watch list for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I college baseball. The midseason watch list includes Addison Reed of San Diego State, who leads the nation with 12 saves and is the only closer with double digits in that category. The sophomore right-hander carries a 0.51 earned run average and has totaled 20 strikeouts in only 14.2 innings pitched. Not far behind Reed are nine save relief specialists all tied for second nationally: Luke Demko (1-3, 2.57) of Rhode Island, Ryan Smith (0-0, 4.19) of Dartmouth, Eric Pettis (3-1, 3.83) of UC Irvine, Kyle Bellamy (3-0, 1.40) of Miami (Fla.) and Winthrop’s Tyler Mizenko (2-3, 3.38). The Atlantic Coast Conference led the way with seven players named to the midseason watch list. The Big 12 had five, while the West Coast, Southeastern Conference and Pac-10 Conference added four pitchers each on this year's watch list. The watch list was compiled from nominations submitted by sports information contacts and conference media relations offices nationwide. 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 3, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional play. The NCBWA's All-America Committee then will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Saturday, June 13, before the opening of NCAA 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 and Georgia’s Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008. The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player. It also selects a Division I All-America Team, Division I Freshman All-Americans, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division II and III Players of the Year. For more information on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year, contact Chuck Dunlap at the Southeastern Conference at 205-458-3000. 2009 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST PITCHER SCHOOL CL Kevin Munson James Madison So. Colin Bates North Carolina So. Matty Ott LSU Fr. Michael Belfiore Boston College Jr. Matt Packer Virginia Jr. Kyle Bellamy Miami (Fla.) Jr. Eric Pettis UC Irvine Jr. Scott Bittle Ole Miss Sr. Addison Reed San Diego State So. Zach Calhoon UTSA Jr. Kevin Rhoderick Oregon State So. Collin Cargill Southern Miss So. Jordan Rogers Rice Sr. Joey Cutler NC State Sr. Thomas Rooke Kansas State So. Luke Demko Rhode Island Sr. Chad Shepherd Northwestern State Fr. Chris Enourato West Virginia Jr. Thain Simon Santa Clara So. Nick Gaudi Pepperdine Sr. Paul Smyth Kansas Sr. Jake Geglein Cincinnati Sr. Ryan Smith Dartmouth So. AJ Griffin San Diego Jr. Jimmy Stanley Belmont Sr. Jake Hale Ohio State Sr. Travis Starling Texas A&M Jr. Stephen Harrold UNC Wilmington So. Jason Stoffel Arizona Jr. Alex Hassan Duke Jr. Drew Storen Stanford So. Austin Hubbard Auburn Jr. Josh Storm Troy Sr. Joe Kelly UC Riverside Jr. Daniel Tenholder Austin Peay Jr. Greg Lane Binghamton Sr. Matt Vaughn Clemson Sr. Cody Martin Gonzaga So. Derek Ward ULM Sr. Nick McCully Coastal Carolina Fr. Dean Weaver Georgia Jr. Tyler Mizenko Winthrop Fr. Austin Wood Texas Sr. Brian Moran North Carolina Jr. Ten Players, Coaches Selected for Fourth Annual College Baseball Hall of Fame Class The College Baseball Foundation has announced 10 players and coaches comprising the 2009 National College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. “This is an exciting day for the Hall of Fame every year,” said Dr. Mike Gustafson, co-chair of the Hall of Fame and member of the CBF Board of Trustees. “It’s another remarkable class.” Among the 2009 Hall of Fame class is one Vintage-Era inductee and the first “small school” inductee. Branch Rickey, player and coach from Ohio Wesleyan and Michigan is the Vintage-Era inductee. The Vintage-Era designation is for those who played or coached prior to 1947. The University of St. Francis head coach Gordie Gillespie is the small-school inductee. His career at Lewis University and St. Francis has seen him become the winningest coach in college baseball history. The “small school” designation is for two and four-year schools other than NCAA Division I. “We are delighted to finally recognize the ‘small school’ category of college baseball,” Gustafson said. “Coach Gillespie was the overwhelming choice of our voting committee.” Gillespie, who has coached for more than five decades, said he is thrilled to be a part of the 2009 College Baseball Hall of Fame Class. “I can’t tell you how excited and overwhelmed I am to receive this tremendous honor,” he said. “To be going in with such a select group of college players ... as well as my dear friend Ron Polk, who is one of the most brilliant minds in college baseball, is unbelievable.” The remaining members of the 2009 Hall of Fame class are Joe Carter, outfielder, Wichita State; Darren Dreifort, pitcher/DH, Wichita State; Kirk Dressendorfer, pitcher, Texas; Barry Larkin, shortstop, Michigan; Keith Moreland, catcher/utility, Texas; Rafael Palmeiro, outfielder, Mississippi State; Ron Polk, coach, Georgia Southern, Mississippi State, Georgia; and Todd Walker, second baseman, Louisiana State. Joe Carter, who played at Wichita State from 1979 to 1981, was named National Player of the Year by Sporting News in 1981. A two-time first-team All-American, he was twice named MVP of the Missouri Valley Conference and three times named to the All-MVC team. In 2007, he was the top vote-getter when the MVC chose its All-Centennial baseball team. Darren Dreifort led Wichita State to consecutive College World Series appearances from 1991 to 1993, including appearances in both the 1991 and 1993 final games. The winner of Golden Spikes and Smith Awards in 1993, he was a two-time first-team All-American and All-MVC performer. He was the 1993 MVC Pitcher of the Year and in 2007 he was named to the MVC All- Centennial team as both a designated hitter and relief pitcher. Kirk Dressendorfer, who pitched at Texas from 1988 to 1990, was a three-time first team All- American, making him one of only 11 in history to be so honored. His 45 wins made him one of the most decorated players in Southwest Conference history as he won three SWC MVP awards and three All-SWC team honors.