JSU's Todd Hornsby set the OVC record with 15 saves in 2011.
1/31/2012 11:33:00 AM | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – Jacksonville State's Todd Hornsby is among 45 players named to the initial watch list for the eighth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Hornsby, a native of Clay, Ala., was a First Team All-OVC selection after a record-breaking junior season that saw him set JSU's and the Ohio Valley Conference's single-season record for saves with 15.
“I'm very proud of Todd and the accomplishments that he has received over the last two seasons for us and preseason honors are based on prior performance,” said JSU head coach Jim Case. “We are even more excited about what Todd will accomplish his senior season for us.”
Hornsby was a four-time OVC Pitcher of the Week, the most by any player in the league, and made 30 appearances in relief during the 2011 season. The right-hander posted a 5-4 overall record with a 2.01 earned run average. He struck out 45 batters and held the opponents to just a .232 batting average.
The former Clay-Chalkville product is also a Louisville Slugger Pre-season All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 16, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 6, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced during the 2012 College World Series.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006, Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia's Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbing the honor in 2009, Texas' Chance Ruffin earning the honor in 2010 and Texas freshman Corey Knebel winning it last season.
Jacksonville State opens the 2012 season Feb. 17-19 with a three-game series at Northwestern State and will play its home-opener on February 22 against Samford at Rudy Abbott Field.
2012 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Pitcher School YR
Hugh Adams Florida Atlantic Sr.
Chris Anderson Jacksonville So.
Luke Bard Georgia Tech Jr.
Jake Boyd Stetson Sr.
Tony Bryant Oregon State Jr.
Matt Carasiti St. John's Jr.
Pat Christensen La Salle Jr.
Alex Cillo Bucknell Sr.
Scott Coffman New Mexico State Sr.
Caleb Dudley Louisiana Tech Jr.
Matt Duncan Morehead State Jr.
Jake Dyer Georgia State Sr.
Cale Elam Wichita State So.
Matt Gardner Nevada Sr.
Kyle Glancy Northern Illinois Sr.
Ryan Harvey Seton Hall So.
Ryan Hawthorne LMU Sr.
Todd Hornsby Jacksonville State Sr.
Zack Jones San Jose State Jr.
Corey Knebel Texas So.
Forrest Koumas South Carolina So.
Kenny Long Illinois State Sr.
Stefan Lopez Southeastern Louisiana Jr.
Austin Maddox Florida Jr.
Eddie Magallon Long Beach State Jr.
Tyler Maloof Georgia Jr.
Kevin McKague Army Sr.
Jeff McVaney Texas State Sr.
Michael Morin North Carolina Jr.
John Neely Texas Tech Sr.
Chris Overman North Carolina State Jr.
Robbie Powell Stetson Sr.
Caleb Reed Mississippi State Sr.
Joel Rinehart Navy Jr.
Steven Rodriguez Florida Jr.
Joe Rogers UCF Jr.
Nolan Sanburn Arkansas So.
Michael Schum Wright State Sr.
Tyler Smith Rider Jr.
Kurt Spomer Creighton Sr.
Tyler Wagner Utah Jr.
Tony Wieber Michigan State Jr.
Abram Williams Radford Sr.
Nick Wittgren Purdue Jr.
Evan Zerff Long Island Jr.
Hornsby, a native of Clay, Ala., was a First Team All-OVC selection after a record-breaking junior season that saw him set JSU's and the Ohio Valley Conference's single-season record for saves with 15.
“I'm very proud of Todd and the accomplishments that he has received over the last two seasons for us and preseason honors are based on prior performance,” said JSU head coach Jim Case. “We are even more excited about what Todd will accomplish his senior season for us.”
Hornsby was a four-time OVC Pitcher of the Week, the most by any player in the league, and made 30 appearances in relief during the 2011 season. The right-hander posted a 5-4 overall record with a 2.01 earned run average. He struck out 45 batters and held the opponents to just a .232 batting average.
The former Clay-Chalkville product is also a Louisville Slugger Pre-season All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 16, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 6, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced during the 2012 College World Series.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006, Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia's Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbing the honor in 2009, Texas' Chance Ruffin earning the honor in 2010 and Texas freshman Corey Knebel winning it last season.
Jacksonville State opens the 2012 season Feb. 17-19 with a three-game series at Northwestern State and will play its home-opener on February 22 against Samford at Rudy Abbott Field.
2012 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Pitcher School YR
Hugh Adams Florida Atlantic Sr.
Chris Anderson Jacksonville So.
Luke Bard Georgia Tech Jr.
Jake Boyd Stetson Sr.
Tony Bryant Oregon State Jr.
Matt Carasiti St. John's Jr.
Pat Christensen La Salle Jr.
Alex Cillo Bucknell Sr.
Scott Coffman New Mexico State Sr.
Caleb Dudley Louisiana Tech Jr.
Matt Duncan Morehead State Jr.
Jake Dyer Georgia State Sr.
Cale Elam Wichita State So.
Matt Gardner Nevada Sr.
Kyle Glancy Northern Illinois Sr.
Ryan Harvey Seton Hall So.
Ryan Hawthorne LMU Sr.
Todd Hornsby Jacksonville State Sr.
Zack Jones San Jose State Jr.
Corey Knebel Texas So.
Forrest Koumas South Carolina So.
Kenny Long Illinois State Sr.
Stefan Lopez Southeastern Louisiana Jr.
Austin Maddox Florida Jr.
Eddie Magallon Long Beach State Jr.
Tyler Maloof Georgia Jr.
Kevin McKague Army Sr.
Jeff McVaney Texas State Sr.
Michael Morin North Carolina Jr.
John Neely Texas Tech Sr.
Chris Overman North Carolina State Jr.
Robbie Powell Stetson Sr.
Caleb Reed Mississippi State Sr.
Joel Rinehart Navy Jr.
Steven Rodriguez Florida Jr.
Joe Rogers UCF Jr.
Nolan Sanburn Arkansas So.
Michael Schum Wright State Sr.
Tyler Smith Rider Jr.
Kurt Spomer Creighton Sr.
Tyler Wagner Utah Jr.
Tony Wieber Michigan State Jr.
Abram Williams Radford Sr.
Nick Wittgren Purdue Jr.
Evan Zerff Long Island Jr.
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, May 10
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
