Thursday, May 05, 2011

MACON, Ga. - Jacksonville's Adam Brett Walker and Stetson's Nick Rickles joined ETSU's Paul Hoilman on the Golden Spikes Award Mid-Season List, announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday. Hoilman appeared on the preseason list on February 17th, while Walker and Rickles were two of 23 student-athletes named to the 60-man list after their play so far this season.

Walker appears in the top-two in eight offensive categories among A-Sun players and leads the conference in batting average (.412), RBI (61), doubles (19) and total bases (126). Hoilman tops the conference in three categories; slugging percentage (.722), home runs (15) and walks (39), while Rickles lands in the top-10 of six offensive categories.

Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

In 2010, Bryce Harper, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, won the prestigious award. Past winners also include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006), David Price (2007), Buster Posey (2008) and Stephen Strasburg (2009).

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