Birmingham, Ala.--Forty players have been named to the initial watch list for the fifth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, and Binghamton University's Greg Lane is among the nominees.
Lane, who was also named to the preseason Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List, was a First Team All-Conference reliever last season and is back as a senior for the America East preseason coaches' pick Bearcats. He led the conference in saves a year ago with 11 and recorded a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relation contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 16, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, May 27, prior to start of NCAA regional tournament competition.
2009 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
PITCHER SCHOOL YR
Colin Bates North Carolina So.
Michael Belfiore Boston College Jr.
Kyle Bellamy Miami (Fla.) Jr.
Scott Bittle Ole Miss Sr.
Louis Coleman LSU Sr.
Zach Calhoon UT-San Antonio Jr.
Jordan Conley Xavier Sr.
Joey Cutler NC State Sr.
Chase Dempsay Houston So.
Matt Evers Rice So.
Nick Gaudi Pepperdine Sr.
Jake Geglein Cincinnati Sr.
Jimmy Gillheeney NC State Jr.
AJ Griffin San Diego Jr.
Jake Hale Ohio State Sr.
Stephen Harrold UNC Wilmington So.
Alex Hassan Duke Jr.
James Hayes Rider Sr.
Brendan Lafferty UCLA Sr.
Greg Lane Binghamton Sr.
Cody Martin Gonzaga So.
Alex McRee Georgia Jr.
J.D. Melton Navy Jr.
Brian Moran North Carolina Jr.
Matt Packer Virginia Jr.
Eric Pettis UC Irvine Jr.
Kevin Rhoderick Oregon State So.
Thomas Rooke Kansas State So.
Thain Simon Santa Clara So.
Paul Smyth Kansas Sr.
Travis Smink VMI Jr.
Jimmy Stanley Belmont Sr.
Travis Starling Texas A&M Jr.
Jason Stoffel Arizona Jr.
Drew Storen Stanford So.
Josh Storm Troy Sr.
Daniel Tenholder Austin Peay Jr.
Kyle Thebeau Texas A&M Sr.
Matt Vaughn Clemson Sr.
Derek Ward UL-Monroe Sr.