April 24, 2008
Texas A&M senior Dane Carter (Graham, Texas) was one of 50 players named to the Dick Howser Trophy watch list, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Thursday.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball and regarded by many as the sport?â„¢s most prestigious award. The 2008 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Saturday, June 14.
Carter is hitting .428 entering the weekend and has pounded out nine doubles, eight triples, six home runs and 46 RBI in starting all 41 games at third base for the Aggies. He leads the country in triples and ranks sixth nationally in hits (71), while pacing A&M in six offensive categories and the Big 12 in four (batting average, hits, triples and total bases).
Carter has also been strong defensively for the Aggies at third base, committing two errors in 103 chances (.981 fielding percentage) over the last 29 games. He joined Missouri?â„¢s Aaron Crow and Jacob Priday and Nebraska?â„¢s Johnny Dorn as the only Big 12 representatives on the list.
Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
Texas A&M is back in action this weekend when the Aggies host No. 4 Missouri in a Big 12 showdown at Olsen Field. The series opens on Friday at 6:30 p.m. The game will air locally on WTAW-AM 1620. Tickets are available at the gate, by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE or logging on to aggieathletics.com.