Wright Named To 2011 Bench Watch List
March 10, 2011 | Baseball
March 10, 2011
WICHITA, Kansas - East Carolina' Zach Wright is one of 42 catchers named to the official watch list for the 2011 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John's Pizza the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Thursday afternoon. The Bench Award, which is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, is a rolling list that will be updated to include other candidates until May 6, 2011.
Wright, a 2010 Bench Watch List Candidate, has started all 12 games behind the plate in 2011 where he is batting .238 (10-for-42) with two home runs, seven RBI, three doubles and nine runs scored. He has thrown out 5 of 11 base runners, including two against No. 10 Virginia in the Pirates 4-3 win. Against Campbell, he smacked his fourth career grand slam, tying him with Brandon Henderson for the most since the 2002 season.
Last year Wright split time with two-time Bench Watch List candidate Jared Avchen making 30 of his 40 starts behind the dish. He batted .265 (39-for-147) with a team-best 14 home runs (three grand slams), 47 RBI and 34 runs scored.
A native of Goldsboro, N.C., Wright is the fourth catcher since 2006 to be named to the prestigious award watch list following 2006 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, 2011. 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 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 14th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2011.
2011 Watch List
Milan Adams, JR - University of Rhode Island
Jett Bandy, JR - University of Arizona
Brock Bennett, SR - University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa
Alexander Black, SR - Coppin State University
Dan Burant, JR - The University of Akron
Tony Caldwell, SR - Auburn University
Curt Casali, SR - Vanderbilt University
Matt Colantonio, SR - Brown University
Chad Comer, SR - University of Texas at Arlington
Joshua Cryer, SR - Southeastern Louisiana University
Taylor Davis, JR - Morehead State University
Jeremy Dowdy, JR - Appalachian State University
Frank Esposito, SR - Seton Hall University
J.J. Ethel, SR - University of Louisville
Chris Forsten, JR - William & Mary
Brett Frantini, JR - Northern Illinois University
Kevin Gonzalez, SR - Texas A&M University
Chase Graskewicz, SO - Kansas State University
Chuck Howard, SR - New Mexico State University
Steven Keller, JR - California State University, Northridge
Ralph Keppler, JR - The University of Albany
Matt Koch, JR - Loyola Marymount University
Rafael Lopez, SR - Florida State University
David Lyon, JR - Kent State University
Kyle Mahoney, SR - High Point University
James McCann, JR - University of Arkansas
A.J. Miller, SR - Lafayette College
Chris O'Brien, JR - Wichita State University
Peter O'Brien, JR - Bethune-Cookman University
Tyler Ogle, JR - University of Oklahoma
Kevin Plawecki, SO - Purdue University
Matt Reistetter, FR - Hofstra University
Matt Rice, SR - Western Kentucky University
Ryan Schlater, SR - Bowling Green State University
Andrew Stumph, SO - Texas State University
Andrew Susac, SO - Oregon State University
Beau Taylor, JR - University of Central Florida
Derek Trent, SR - East Tennessee State University
Chris Walker, SR - Fordham University
J.T. Watkins, JR - United States Military Academy (Army)
Zach Wright, JR - East Carolina University
Mike Zunino, SO - University of Florida
