IRVINE, Calif. --- Portland’s record-breaking closer Chris Dennis has been named one of five finalists for the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday. Dennis, a junior right-hander, registered 14 saves during his first season at UP, setting new career and single-season marks for the Pilots.
The other four finalists are Kevin Arico of Virginia, Neil Holland of Louisville, Chance Ruffin of Texas and Jordan Swagerty of Arizona State. Arico and Holland led the nation this season with 16 saves each.
Dennis, a native of Bothell, Wash., who transferred to Portland from Edmonds CC last summer, went 5-1 overall and posted a miniscule earned run average of 1.88. He also held opposing hitters to a .204 batting average, walked just nine in 43.0 innings of work and notched 51 strikeouts, for a per-game average of 10.7.
Dennis set a new program single-season record when he picked up his 10th save of the year at Pepperdine on April 23. Two days later he became the program’s all-time saves leader with his 12th stop.
More than 50 of the nation’s top collegiate relief pitchers were included in the selection process for this year’s NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, beginning with initial preseason nominations by baseball contacts at NCAA Division I schools.
The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced on Saturday, June 19, the opening day of the 2010 College World Series.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006, Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia’s Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008 and San Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbing the honor last season.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.
