April 19, 2006
DALLAS - UCF senior closer Dominic Petracca is one of 30 players who have been named to the midseason watch list for the second annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Wednesday. The award will be given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.
Petracca has been nothing short of sensational for the Golden Knights in 2006. The Sanford native is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 19 appearances. In 28.1 innings of work, Petracca has totaled eight saves along with 27 strikeouts and just two walks. He has only allowed 13 hits and one unearned run on the season while opponents are batting just .141 against him.
Petracca is tied for first in Conference USA and is tied for 15th nationally with eight saves.
Of the 30 pitchers who make up the midseason watch list, 16 are ranked among the nation's Top 25 overall relievers with at least eight saves so far this year, including Don Czyz of Kansas who leads the nation with 13 shutdowns.
The 2006 midseason watch list represents 15 conferences, led by four players from the Atlantic Coast, and three from the Big West, Pac 10, and Southeastern conferences. The Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Metro Atlantic, Patriot and Southern each have two players represented, while the Atlantic Sun, Horizon, Mid American, Missouri Valley, and Western Athletic all have one player.
"These pitchers have some of the most exciting arms in college baseball," said NCBWA President Todd Lamb, Assistant Athletics Communications Director at The Ohio State University. "We are looking to build upon the success of last year's award, and continue to generate some recognition for the nation's outstanding relief pitchers."
Nominations were made by each school's baseball sports information contact. A mid-season release, including the national saves leaders, will be updated during the week of April 17. At the end the regular season, the Division I leader in saves and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as the award's finalists. These finalists will be released on Wednesday, May 31, just prior to the beginning of NCAA regional play.
From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee will select a winner. The 2nd annual winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 7, two days prior to the beginning of NCAA super regional action.
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 and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.