March 10, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Once again producing a solid all-around season so far, UCF junior catcher Beau Taylor was named to the 2011 Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award Watch List delivered by Papa John's Pizza. The Rockledge native was one of only 42 catchers in the country to receive a spot on the prestigious list.
Taylor has now been selected to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List two-straight seasons after he was a Freshman All-American in 2009.
The Johnny Bench Award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher as voted on by Division I coaches. A selection committee will narrow the list down to the semifinalists. Statistical information on each semifinalist is then compiled and sent to the national selection committee by the end of May. A vote by the national selection committee narrows the list to the three finalists.
Another vote during the College World Series will determine who will be named the Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year. The three finalists will be brought to Wichita for the awards banquet at the end of June.
Helping to guide UCF to a 10-3 record this year with key victories over Alabama, South Alabama, Bethune-Cookman and Boston College, Taylor holds a .333 batting average with three doubles, a triple and two homers. He also has driven in 16 and scored 13 runs.
Taylor carried over a 21-game hitting streak from last year and proceeded to pick up a hit in his first five outings of 2011. His 26-game hitting streak tied a UCF record set by Mike Myers in 2001.
In the field, Taylor has not committed an error in 106 chances including 16 assists. And on the basepaths, he has thrown out seven of 15 would-be basestealers while also picking off a runner at first base.
For his career, Taylor is batting .344 with 13 homers and 74 RBI.
After going 2-for-4 with three RBI Wednesday in an 18-0 victory over Boston College, Taylor and the Knights get back to work this weekend when they host Wagner in a three-game series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m.