Barnett Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List

March 21, 2003

Carbondale, Ill. - Senior catcher Toby Barnett was named to the 2003 Johnny Bench Award Watch List, released this week by The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. The award honors the top National Collegiate Catcher in a season.

The watch list is compiled from information based on the 2002 season and 2003 preseason honors. Because the award is given to the top National Collegiate Catcher in a season, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 2.

A native of W. Kallaroo, Australia, Barnett was a first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 2002. Also named the league's Newcomer of the Year, Barnett hit .306 with a team-high 16 doubles, 45 RBI and 111 total bases. This season, he was named preseason all-MVC for the second straight year.

The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 semi-finalists, whom will be announced on May 20. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine three finalists. The finalists will then be announced on June 2, prior to the College World Series with a final vote among the national committee to follow at the end of the event. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 6th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Area Banquet in Wichita, Kan.

Previous winners of the prestigious award are: 2002 - Jeremy Brown, University of Alabama; 2001 - Kelly Shoppach, Baylor University; and 2000 - Brad Cresse, Louisiana State University.

2003 Johnny Bench Award Watch ListToby Barnett, Southern Illinois, SrMitch Maier, Toledo, JrBrian Bormaster, Tulane, JrMike Nickeas, Georgia Tech, SoBrady Burrill, Michigan State, SrPat O'Brien, Kent State, SrTroy Carodonna, Duke, SrTony Piazza, SW Missouri State, SrDavid Castillo, Oral Roberts, JrLandon Powell, South Carolina, JrJeff Clement, Southern California, FrTony Richie, Florida State, JrJed English, Virginia Tech, SrBrian Rose, Florida, SrJosh Ford, Baylor, SoJustin Ruchti, Rice, SrRyan Garko, Stanford, SrCurtis Thigpen, Texas, SoJavi Herrera, Tennessee, JrAdam Tidball, Richmond, JrJonathan Higashi, Loyola Marymount, JrNicholas Udy, Utah, SrBobby Huddleston, Auburn, SrChris Westervelt, Stetson, JrDevin Ivany, South Florida, SoBrad Willcutt, Southern Mississippi, SoJason Jaramillo, Oklahoma State, SoKyle Wilson, Cal Poly, JrTodd Jennings, Long Beach State, JrDerek Kinnear, Ohio State, JrTim Land South, Alabama, JrMatt Lauderdale, College of Charleston, Sr

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