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Kemp Named To Johnny Bench Award Watch List
April 30, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - A week after being named to the official 50-man watch list for the 2008 Dick Howser Trophy senior catcher Corey Kemp has been added to the official watch list for the 2008 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by AT&T and Papa John's Pizza which is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Tuesday. Kemp has played in all 45 games with 39 coming behind the plate and is batting .358. Currently he leads Conference USA and the team with 51 RBI, while also leading the club in home runs (12), total bases (103) and slugging percentage (.624). The Franklin, Tenn. native is the second Pirate catcher to make the official watch list following Jake Smith who took home the 2006 Coleman-Johnny Bench Award. "This is such a great honor for Corey," said Head Coach Billy Godwin. "He has been a leader both on and off the field and is very deserving of this recognition. Corey has worked extremely hard at ECU, which is evident by the way he has been playing this season." The award is named after Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, who was twice selected the Most Valuable Player in the National League and a 14-time All-Star. He won 10 Gold Gloves in his major league career, caught 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast. Catchers are nominated for the award by their coaches and the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 5, 2008. The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 14, 2008. Statistics will be compiled on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 3, 2008 prior to the NCAA Super Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 11th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2008.
2008 Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award delivered by AT&T and Papa John's Pizza Watch List |
