Friday, May 20, 2011

WICHITA, Kan. – ETSU senior Derek Trent and Stetson junior Nick Rickles were named two of thirteen semifinalists for the 2011 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John’s Pizza announced the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission on Friday.

The Atlantic Sun joined the SEC as the only two conferences in the nation with multiple semifinalists. The SEC placed four on the list while the ACC, Big 12, Big 10, CAA, Northeast, Missouri Valley and Sun Belt each had one representative.

On the season, Trent leads the Bucs hitting .357 with 12 doubles, 14 home runs and 57 RBI. The local product has also been solid defensively throwing out 20 of 45 base runners.

With two games remaining in the regular season Rickles is batting a team-leading .362 with 20 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 58 RBI. Defensively he has a fielding percentage of .989, he leads the Atlantic Sun Conference in pick offs with seven, and he has thrown out 21 runners attempting to steal.

Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 6, 2011. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and Johnny Bench will present the award at the 14th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2011.