|
|
|
Scruggs and Strasburg Named Semifinalists For 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award 2008 MWC Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, two of 50 on semifinalists.
May 21, 2008 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - UNLV junior first baseman Xavier Scruggs and San Diego State sophomore right-hander Stephen Strasburg are two of 50 semifinalists for the 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA) announced by USA Baseball May 20. This year will mark the 31st consecutive year the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award has been presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. Scruggs, the 2008 MWC Player of the Year, became the second league player to win the MWC Triple Crown, as he led the league in batting average (.389), home runs (20) and RBI (65). He also led the MWC in slugging percentage (.778), on-base percentage (.489) and total bases (168). In addition, Scruggs ranked in the top-five in runs scored (60), doubles (20), hits (84) and walks (38). In conference games, he tied for the league lead in home runs (8), while ranking third in slugging percentage (.674), tied for third in walks (15), fourth in total bases (64) and tied for fifth in RBI (27). Strasburg posted a 6-0 record in MWC games with an earned run average of 0.63 and 92 strikeouts. His ERA and strikeout totals are MWC all-time records in league play. The 2008 MWC Pitcher of the Year also set a conference game season record in opposing batting average, holding the opposition to a .136 percentage. Overall, he posted an 8-2 record and set new MWC records in ERA (1.59) and opposing batting average (.178), while striking out 128 batters. His strikeout total currently leads the nation. On the season, Strasburg was named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week three times and National Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week on April 15. He was also named MWC Pitcher of the Week a record seven times in 2008. After accepting nominations from sports information directors across the country, a committee voted to determine the 50 semifinalists. The names of the 50 semifinalists will now be forwarded to a voting body of 125 who will select the five finalists and the eventual 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winner.
|
|
