Feb. 15, 2008

USA Baseball has announced its preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List for the 2008 season. The release of the watch list marks USA Baseball's first step toward identifying the top player in college baseball. Conference USA had five players named to the preseason list: Tulane pitcher Shooter Hunt, UCF first baseman Kiko Vazquez and three Rice players - outfielder Aaron Luna and pitchers Ryan Berry and Cole St.Clair.

The initial list - the first ever of its kind for the Golden Spikes Award - features 75 of the nation's top collegiate talents, as nominated by baseball sports information directors across the country. The watch list will also be "rolling" to ensure that athletes who play themselves into consideration by USA Baseball for the Golden Spikes Award are not ignored. The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by Major League Baseball, and 2008 marks the 31st installment of the award.

"We think we have a comprehensive list of names on this rolling, initial Golden Spikes Award watch list," says Eric Campbell, USA Baseball National Teams General Manager.

"We also look forward, however, to watching the season unfold and keeping an eye on those players whose performance warrants an inclusion to the list."

A first-team All-Conference USA honoree and second-team All-Louisiana recipient in 2007, Hunt finished third in C-USA in ERA, total strikeouts, strikeouts looking (35) and opponent batting average, and fourth in innings pitched. He also ranked 44th nationally in strikeouts, 57th in ERA and 58th in strikeouts per nine innings with a 9.39 clip. Hunt posted a 3.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio with just 30 bases on balls as a sophomore and tallied seven or more strikeouts eight times.

Vazquez was named first team All-Conference USA after leading the Knights in nearly every offensive category, including average (.364), doubles (17), home runs (9) and RBI (57). The only UCF player to appear in all 59 games last season, he had a .467 on-base percentage and a .587 slugging percentage. Vasquez had a career-best 16-game hitting streak from April 21- May 19.

Luna was a third team All-American and second team All-Conference USA selection last season who batted .315 (third on the team) with 15 doubles and team-highs of 13 home runs and 66 RBI. He also led Rice with 48 walks, a .570 slugging percentage and a .447 on-base percentage. Luna has hit 29 homers in his first two seasons in an Owls uniform, a total that has him tied for ninth place on the school's all-time list.

Berry produced a remarkable rookie campaign for the Owls, earning first team All-Conference USA honors and being named the conference's Freshman of the Year and a national Freshman of the Year by multiple agencies. He finished the season 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA. Berry struck out 125 batters and walked just 34 in 122.2 innings. With 11 wins, Berry tied the Rice freshman school record for victories, set by former first round draft pick Matt Anderson in 1995.

St.Clair missed the first two months of last season with an injury, but proved to be quite effective upon his return in April. In 16 appearances, he posted a 1.91 ERA with nine saves. St.Clair threw 28.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on 22 hits, while striking out 26 batters and walking just eight. Opposing batters hit only .214 against the 2006 All-American closer last season and he enters 2008 as the school's career leader in saves with 22.

On May 20, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 50 names. The final list of 50 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff - close to 150 voters in total.

Additionally, for the first time ever, fan voting will be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2008. May 20 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on www.usabaseball.com. As part of this May selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 50 names. On June 3, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.

The 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 16 on an award show via live telecast from New York at MLB Advanced Media studios.

Past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), and David Price (2007).

2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Important Dates
• February 15 - 2008 pre-season watch list released
•• May 20 - 50 semi-finalists announced
• June 3 - Five (5) finalists announced
• July 16 - 2008 winner announced

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee. 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. For more information on USA Baseball please visit www.usabaseball.com.