Avchen Named To Bench Watch List
March 01, 2010 | Baseball
March 1, 2010
2010 Bench Award Watch List (PDF) 
WICHITA, Kansas - East Carolina's Jared Avchen is one of 53 catchers named to the official watch list for the 2010 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John's Pizza the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Monday afternoon. The Bench Award is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 5, 2010.
Avchen, a 2009 Bench Watch List Candidate, has started six games behind the plate in 2010 where he is batting .190 (4-for-21) with an RBI and four runs scored. Last season, Avchen started 56 of 62 games where he batted .33 (58-for-176) with two home runs, 29 RBI, eight doubles and 27 runs scored.
A native of Palm Bay, Fla., is the third catcher since 2006 to be named to the prestigious award watch list following 2008 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award winner Jake Smith and 2008 semi-finalist Corey Kemp.
The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semifinalists, whom will be announced May 19, 2010. 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 2, 2010 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1, 2010.
