June 1, 2010
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF senior left fielder Chris Duffy has already received a lot of attention following his memorable 2010 season. And the Orlando native added to his collection Tuesday when he was selected as one of 30 semifinalists for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, which is given to the nation's top amateur baseball player.
Beginning today fans will be able to vote on the 2010 GSA by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com and selecting their favorite amateur player.
Today marks the third year in a row that GoldenSpikesAward.com - powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball - will be the online home for the award. The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past-winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2010 semifinalists. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to five finalists on Tuesday, June 8, en route to the announcement of this year's winner on Tuesday, July 13.
In 2007, USA Baseball instituted a new selection and balloting procedure for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, and it will follow the same model again in 2009. After accepting nominations from sports information directors across the country, a committee voted to determine the 30 semifinalists. The names of the 30 semifinalists will now be forwarded to a group of nearly 200 voters which will select the five finalists and the eventual winner.
The 2010 GSA will be awarded live at MLB's All-Star FanFest in Anaheim as part of a production by Major League Baseball and MLBAM. Online footage of the event will air live exclusively at GoldenSpikesAward.com.
Duffy not only had one of the most impressive seasons by any player to ever don the Black and Gold jersey, but it also was one of the best in Conference USA history as well. The Cypress Creek High School graduate broke the UCF and C-USA records with a .447 batting average and an .850 slugging percentage. Duffy totaled 92 hits, 18 doubles and a .539 on-base percentage during the year.
The senior used the long ball throughout the entire campaign, sending 21 over the wall to set the UCF mark for most homers in a single season. In his final at-bat of his collegiate career, Duffy hit his first grand slam as a Knight in a run-ruled victory at Tulane May 22. While it was his first granny, it also tied him with Bobby Kiser (1987-90) for the UCF career home run record with 43 dingers.
On May 20, Duffy was named one of 25 semifinalists for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Dick Howser Trophy. Three 2010 finalists for that honor which is given to the nation's top collegiate player will be announced just prior to the first game of the College World Series with a press conference slated for June 10 at Rosenblatt Stadium. The winner will be named in a national broadcast from Lubbock, Texas, on July 2.
A list of the 30 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award is as follows:
Name, Class, Position, SchoolTrevor Bauer, Sophomore, RHP, UCLADaniel Bibona, Senior, LHP, UC IrvineGary Brown, Junior, IF, Cal State FullertonMichael Choice, Junior, OF, Texas-ArlingtonChristian Colon, Junior, IF, Cal State FullertonZack Cox, Junior, IF/RHP, ArkansasDerek Dietrich, Junior, IF, Georgia TechChris Duffy, Senior, IF/OF, Central FloridaYasmani Grandal, Junior, C, Miami (Fla.)Cole Green, Junior, RHP/OF, TexasBryce Harper, Freshman, C, Southern NevadaPaul Hoilman, Junior, RHP/IF, East Tennessee StateDanny Hultzen, Sophomore, LHP/IF, VirginiaTaylor Jungmann, Sophomore, RHP, TexasBarret Loux, Junior, RHP/OF, Texas A&MZack MacPhee, Sophomore, IF, Arizona StateMike McGee, Junior, RHP/OF, Florida StateDeck McGuire, Junior, RHP, Georgia TechAnthony Meo, Sophomore, RHP, Coastal CarolinaHunter Morris, Junior, IF/OF, AuburnDrew Pomeranz, Junior, LHP, MississippiAnthony Rendon, Sophomore, IF, RiceChance Ruffin, Junior, RHP, TexasChris Sale, Junior, LHP, Florida Gulf CoastRob Segedin, RS Sophomore, IF/RHP, TulaneJohn Stilson, Sophomore, RHP/IF, Texas A&MKolbrin Vitek, Junior, IF/RHP, Ball StateAlex Wimmers, Junior, RHP, Ohio StateAsher Wojciechowski, Junior, RHP, The CitadelPhil Wunderlich, Junior, IF/OF, Louisville="http:>
About the Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2009 Golden Spikes Award winner was Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as David Price ('07), Tim Lincecum ('06), Alex Gordon ('05), Jered Weaver ('04), Rickie Weeks ('03), Khalil Greene ('02), Jason Jennings ('00), Pat Burrell (`98), J.D. Drew ('97), Mark Kotsay ('95), and Jason Varitek ('94). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79), and Bob Horner ('78). For more information, please visit GoldenSpikesAward.com.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The organization selects and trains the United States Olympic Baseball Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate); the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women's National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to top player in college baseball. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com and GoldenSpikesAward.com. To receive monthly USA Baseball E-mail newsletters delivered straight to your inbox, please visit USABaseball.com and register for free in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures, and become a follower of the Knights at Twitter.com.