TicketsPickerell Named To Bench Watch List
Senior one of 45 nominees
Contact: Shawn Sell
3/12/2004
Steve Pickerell was named to the initial Johnny Bench Award watch list. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? University of Cincinnati senior catcher Steve Pickerell (Norwood, Ohio/Norwood) has been named to the initial watch list for the Johnny Bench Award, honoring the nation's best collegiate catcher. The award is sponsored each year by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission and is named after the former Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher.
The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 semi-finalists, who will be announced on May 20. The three finalists will be revealed on June 3, with the fifth annual award winner being announced at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30.
Pickerell, in his second season as a Bearcat after transferring from Lake City CC, lead UC and ranked ninth in Conference USA with 12 home runs in 2003. Early this season, he is hitting .290 with one home run and three RBI. He is the second UC player to be nominated for the award, joining former Bearcat standout Chris Hamblen who was a semi-finalist in 2002. Pickerell is also one of four C-USA players up for the award, joining Tulane's Brian Bormaster, USF's Devin Ivany and Brad Wilcutt of Southern Miss.
Pickerell and the Bearcats are 2-10 on the year and return to action this weekend with three games in Louisville, Ky. UC will face Ball State at 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, before battling Louisville in a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Sunday.