May 1, 2007
Washington, D.C. - Georgetown University baseball junior reliever Daniel Kennedy (West Orange, N.J./Regis) was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. Kennedy holds the Georgetown school record for saves in a season (9) and a career (18).
Kennedy, a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, recorded the save that set the all-time career mark on March 11 in a 4-2 win over Eastern Kentucky. Last season, Kennedy recorded nine saves and set the school's single-season saves record while finishing second in the BIG EAST. He currently ranks second in the BIG EAST this season.
Kennedy appeared in 26 games last season for the Hoyas which also set a new single-season school record. He has struck out 60 batters and compiled a 4.01 earned run average in his three years on the Hilltop.
The 40 pitchers on the mid-season watch list have combined to save over 300 games during the first half of the 2007 season (through April 15) and have converted 89 percent of their save chances as a group. The list features players from 20 conferences, including five each from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big 12. The Pacific-10 and Conference USA also have four closers on the list, while the Atlantic Sun, Big South, Mid-American, Missouri Valley and Sun Belt Conference all had multiple members on the watch list.
"This is a truly outstanding group of pitchers that cover the landscape of college baseball," said NCBWA First Vice-President Shamus McKnight, Assistant Media Relations Director at the University of Nebraska. "The recognition for this award over the last two years has grown immensely as we have seen the increased emphasis on having strong relief pitching in the college game."
Nominations were made by each school's baseball sports information contact and over 80 pitchers were nominated from around the country. A preliminary preseason watch list was released in February. At the end the regular season, the Division I leader in saves and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as the award's finalists. These finalists will be released on Wednesday, May 30, prior to the beginning of NCAA regional play.
From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee will select a winner. The third-annual winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 6, two days prior to the beginning of NCAA super-regional action. Last year's winner was Don Czyz from Kansas. J. Brent Cox of Texas won the inaugural award in 2005.
