Wednesday, March 03, 2010

DeLand, Fla. - The 2010 Johnny Bench Award Watch List was released on Tuesday and Stetson catcher Nick Rickles has been nominated for the award.

Last year Rickles earned TPX Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America and Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team status. He played in all 57 games for the Hatters. Defensively he displayed a strong throwing arm and a quick release. He finished second in the A-Sun in runners caught stealing with 19. Offensively he hit .296 with 68 hits and tied for third on the team with 12 doubles. He also had five home runs, one triple and 40 RBI in his rookie campaign.

This season the 6-3, 210lb sophomore out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida has been voted as a team captain in just his second season.

"Nick is a team leader on and off the field", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn. "He is quickly developing into one of the top catch, throw, and hit guys in the nation."

The 2010 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John's Pizza is presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. This season fifty-three catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches. This award is presented annually to the top Division I collegiate baseball catcher.