IRVINE, Calif. --- Portland junior pitcher Zach Varce is one of 40 players who have been named to the initial watch list for the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. As a sophomore last season, the right-handed Varce led the West Coast Conference with a 2.69 ERA and was tied for the league high with nine saves.
Varce also tied a program record for saves in a single season, while going 3-5 overall and holding opposing hitters to a .249 average. He struck out 62 in 60.1 innings worked.
Last year’s Stopper of the Year winner, Addison Reed of San Diego State, headlines the list of preseason nominees for the 2010 award. Reed recorded a nation-leading 20 saves in 20 opportunities last season, finished the year with a microscopic 0.65 ERA and 38 strikeouts over his 27.2 innings of work. He allowed only seven walks, with two of those being intentional passes and his save total was a new San Diego State and Mountain West Conference season record.
Reed is joined by two of the five finalists for last season’s award in LSU’s Matty Ott and two-time finalist Eric Pettis of UC Irvine, both NCBWA first-team preseason All-Americans. Ott burst onto the national scene as a freshman in 2009, establishing an LSU school-record with 16 saves. He struck out 69 and walked just six in 50.1 innings of work. Pettis had a strong 2009 season where he had a 5-2 record with a 3.86 ERA and 17 saves, while striking out 37 batters in 42 innings. He walked just seven, while allowing 18 earned runs.
The Big 12 Conference led the way with five players named to the preseason watch list. The ACC, Conference USA and the SEC had four pitchers each on this year’s watch list, while the Pacific-10 Conference is represented by three players.
Varce and Gonzaga’s Cody Martin were the only pitchers named from the WCC.
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 19, 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, June 2, prior to start of NCAA regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA’s All-America Committee then will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced on the opening day of the College World Series on June 19.
2010 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Pitcher, school, year
Steve Arico, Virginia, Jr.
Chris Bassit, Akron, So.
Colin Bates, North Carolina, Jr.
Chad Bettis, Texas Tech, Sr.
Mike Bolsinger, Arkansas, Sr.
Collin Cargill, Southern Miss, Jr.
Andrew Chafin, Kent State, So.
Chase Dempsay, Houston, Jr.
Ryan Duke, Oklahoma, Jr.
Chris Enourato, West Virginia, Sr.
Nick Fleece, Texas A&M, Jr.
Chris Franklin, SE Louisiana, Sr.
Drew Gagnier, Oregon, Jr.
Tim Girdwood, Elon, Jr.
Cole Green, Texas, Jr.
Austin Hubbard, Auburn, Sr.
Mitchell Lambson, Arizona State, So.
Justin Malone, Georgia State, So.
Eric Marshall, TCU, Sr.
Cody Martin, Gonzaga, Jr.
Scott Matyas, Minnesota, Jr.
Randy McCurry, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Kevin McKague, Army, Jr.
Jarad Miller, Valparaiso, Jr.
Tyler Mizenko, Winthrop, So.
Kevin Moran, Boston College, Jr.
Jake Morgan, Mississippi, Jr.
Kevin Munson, James Madison, Jr.
Matty Ott, LSU, So.
Nick Pepitone, Tulane, Jr.
Eric Pettis, UC Irvine, Sr.
Mark Pope, Georgia Tech, So.
Nick Ramirez, Cal State Fullerton, So.
Addison Reed, San Diego State, So.
Kevin Rhoderick, Oregon State, Jr.
Michael Schum, Wright State, So.
Gabriel Shaw, Louisville, Jr.
Chad Sheppard, Northwestern State, So.
Seth Simmons, East Carolina, Jr.
Zach Varce, Portland, So.