STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Sophomore Shawn Sanford is one of 40 players across the nation who have been named to the initial watch list for the fourth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Thursday.
The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
As a rookie in 2007, Sanford was one of five freshmen listed on the award's midseason watch list. This year, Sanford is one of 12 sophomores selected for the preseason honor.
The right handed pitcher is also on the preseason watch list for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities.
In his rookie season, Sanford was 3-4 with a 3.10 ERA in his 32 appearances, earning 11 saves in 72.2 innings. The native of Cinnaminson, N.J., was a reliever in 26 games before making his first start on April 29 at Louisville. He made four starts ? three of which were 7-inning outings ? in his last six appearances with the Bulls. Sanford struck out 63, and only walked 29 batters. He allowed 27 runs and 53 hits, including 11 extra-base hits. With Sanford on the mound, the Bulls outscored opponents 190-185.
Last season Sanford earned a BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll accolade on May 14. The righty was ranked fifth in the country in saves on April 5, when he had eight. In conference play, Sanford tied for the conference lead in saves with six and led the BIG EAST in appearances (15), was fourth in games in relief (12) and third in games finished (11). He was also second in doubles allowed (2), tied for fourth with 15 runs allowed and eighth in the league in earned runs allowed with 14.
With all five of the finalists for the 2007 NCBWA Stopper of the Year having concluded their collegiate careers, a wide-open race for this year's award in anticipated. Sam Houston State relief ace Luke Prihoda, a 24th-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, claimed last year's award. Eight of the nominees were included in the 2008 NCBWA Preseason All-America Team announced by the organization in December.
Nineteen different conferences are represented on this year's talent-filled watch list, with the Pac-10 Conference leading the way with five selections. The BIG EAST and the Big 12 both have four pitchers each on this year's watch list while the Big Ten, SEC and the West Coast Conference are presented by three players each.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 14, including 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, May 28, prior to start of NCAA regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will then select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Wednesday, June 4, before the opening of NCAA super regional play.
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 topping the field in 2007.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, also presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player in addition to naming a Division I All-America Team, Division I and Division III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.
