Gyorko Named Wallace Award Finalist
May 27, 2009 11:02 AM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
May 27, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Shortstop Jedd Gyorko of the West Virginia University baseball team has been named a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, announced by the College Baseball Foundation and finalist watch list sponsor Mizuno.
 |
||
| Jedd Gyorko is one of five shortstops remaining for the Brooks Wallace Award.
Brian Persinger photo |
The Morgantown native is one of five players left for the award, given to the nation’s best shortstop. The other finalists include two players from the Big West Conference - Christian Colon of Cal State Fullerton and Ben Orloff of UC Irvine. Also included are Brian Marquez of New Mexico State and Bryant Hernandez of Oklahoma.
“It was a very tough decision,” said Raymond Richardson, College Baseball Awards Show chairman and CBF Trustee. “All five of these players are standouts.”
Among the five candidates, Gyorko leads the field in batting average (.421), doubles (28) and base hits (96). He also posted an impressive .947 fielding percentage while finishing his first collegiate season at shortstop.
Gyorko, a catalyst for a WVU squad that sits at third in the country with a .360 batting average, led the Mountaineers with 150 total bases and recorded a .658 slugging percentage. He finished the 2009 season with 74 runs scored and drew 32 walks, second-highest on the team.
The CBF, the Dick Howser Committee and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association will announce the recipients of the 2009 college baseball awards as well as the Dick Howser Trophy finalists on June 13 in Omaha, Neb.
The Brooks Wallace Award officially will be presented on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Awards Show, which will recognize the top players in college baseball. In addition to the Brooks Wallace Award, other awards presented during the show will include the Dick Howser Trophy for the national player of the year, and the National Pitcher of the Year Award. The College Baseball Awards Show will be complimented by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as part of the July 1st through July 4th college baseball celebration.
