Starling Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Apr 17, 2008 | Baseball
April 17, 2008
Texas A&M sophomore Travis Starling was one of 45 relief pitchers named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ?Stopper of the Year Award? watch list, the organization announced Thursday. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.
Starling (Yoakum, Texas) ranks second in the Big 12 and 15th nationally in saves with seven. In 23 1/3 innings of work, he sports a 5-0 record and a 1.54 ERA with 17 appearances out of the Aggie bullpen.
Starling sits in sixth place on the A&M single-season save charts, just six shy of the school record (13, Scott Beerer, 2003).
The 2008 midseason watch list features teams representing 19 athletic conferences as well as one independent team. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads the way with six pitchers on the honor squad.
The watch list was compiled from nominations submitted by sports information contacts and conference media relations offices nationwide. At the conclusion of regular season competition, the NCAA Division I saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as the finalists for the award and announced May 28 prior to the start of NCAA regional competition. The winner of the 2008 Stopper of the Year Award will be selected by the NCBWA?™s All-America Committee and announced Wednesday, June 4, two days before NCAA Super Regional play begins.
Texas A&M returns to Big 12 play this weekend when the Aggies face Baylor in a split series. Friday?™s game will be played at Olsen Field with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. The series then moves to Waco and Baylor Ballpark, as Saturday?™s game will begin at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday?™s series finale at 2 p.m.
2008 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
PITCHER SCHOOL CL. HOMETOWN
Tyson Bagley Dallas Baptist Sr. Bakersfield, Calif.
Scott Bittle Mississippi Jr. Texarkana, Texas
Nick Cassavechia Baylor Sr. Dallas, Texas
Zach Calhoon Texas San Antonio So. Spring, Texas
Tyler Conn (LHP) Southern Miss Jr. Ocean Springs, Miss.
Chase Dempsay Houston Fr. Baytown, Texas
Daniel Edwards Kansas State Sr. Kingwood, Texas
Tim Erickson (LHP) Lamar Sr. Sour Lake, Texas
Joshua Fields Georgia Sr. Hull, Ga.
Nick Gaudi Pepperdine Sr. Lancaster, Calif.
Jim Gilheeney (LHP) North Carolina State So. Johnston, R.I.
Thomas Girdwood Elon Fr. Charlotte, N.C.
Matt Gorgen California Jr. Clayton, Calif.
A.J. Griffin San Diego So. El Cajon, Calif.
Carlos Gutierrez Miami Jr. Miami, Fla.
Alex Hale Richmond Sr. Omaha, Neb.
James Hayes Rider So. Sunrise, Fla.
Kyle Heyne Ball State Sr. Coldwater, Ohio
Chris Hicks Georgia Tech Jr. Alpharetta, Ga.
Greg Johnson South Alabama Jr. Omaha, Neb.
Josh Lindblom Purdue Jr. West Lafayette, Ind.
Colin Lynch St. John's Jr. Manchester, N.H.
Jake McCarter Oklahoma Sr. Kerrville, Texas
J.D. Melton Navy So. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Jeremy Nowak Stony Brook So. Cheektowaga, N.Y,
Drew O'Neil Penn State Jr. Roswell, Ga.
Eric Pettis UC Irvine So. West Hills, Calif.
Tommy Rafferty Arizona State Sr. Lorena, Texas
Matt Reifsnider The Citadel So. Ormand Beach, Fla.
Justin Robichaux UL-Lafayette So. Crowley, La.
Kevin Rhoderick Oregon State Fr. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Shawn Sanford South Florida So. Cinnamision, N.J.
Michael Schwimer Virginia Sr. Alexandria, Va.
Brian Shaw Long Beach State Sr. Livermore, Calif.
Thain Simon Santa Clara Fr. El dorado Hills, Calif.
Travis Starling Texas A&M So. Yoakum, Texas
Jason Stoffel Arizona So. Agoura, Calif.
Josh Storm Troy Jr. Cottondale, Fla.
Payton Tweddale (LHP) Charleston Southern Sr. Charlotte, N.C.
Matt Vaughn Clemson Jr. Summerville, S.C.
Pat Venditte (LHP/RHP) Creighton Sr. Omaha, Neb.
Derek Ward Louisiana Monroe Jr. Lewisville, Ark.
Aaron Weatherford Mississippi State Jr. Crystal Springs, Miss.
Bryan Woodall Auburn Jr. Phenix City, Ala.
Rob Wooten North Carolina Sr. Fremont, N.C.
