Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Wichita, Kan. - Forty-five players have been named to the initial watch list for the seventh annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award and three A-Sun closers landed on the list in All-Atlantic Sun relievers Jon Ivie, from Belmont; Chris Kaminski, from Jacksonville plus FGCU's Jack Wagoner.

Ivie led the Bruins and the Atlantic Sun with 10 saves in 28 appearances in 2010. He was named to the All-Atlantic Sun First Team in the closer role and finished with a record of 3-1 while recording a team-best ERA of 3.93. Ivie, who was named to the Mid-Season Watch List last season, tallied 27 strikeouts and only nine walks in 36.2 innings pitched.

Kaminski earned second team honors last season after ranking second in the conference to National Player of the Year Chris Sale with a .236 batting average against and 2.38 ERA. He placed third to Ivie and Wagoner with seven saves. Kaminski led with 24 appearances while ranking second with 56 strikeouts. He enters 2011 one save shy of tying Joe Ausanio (16, 1985-88) for the JU career record.

During his first season at FGCU in 2010, Wagoner finished second in the A-Sun with nine saves over a team-high 25 appearances. Six of Wagoner’s nine saves, which set a single-season record, came in conference play. Wagoner struck out 28 batters over 34 innings.

With the three A-Sun closers on the list, the conference trailed only three leagues, the Big 12, SEC and Conference USA, for having the most recognition on the Watch List.

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.