The University of Akron Athletics
Davidson Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
March 03 | Baseball
University of Akron senior Kurt
Davidson was one of 32 catchers named to the 2008 Coleman
Company-Johnny Bench Award watch list, the Greater Wichita Area
Sports Commission announced Monday. The prestigious award is given
annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher in the
nation.
Davidson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), who is the Zips' all-time
home run leader, is one of two Mid-American Conference receivers
named to the list with the other being Matt Behren
of Northern Illinois. In all, 22 Division I conferences were
represented.
The watch list will be narrowed down from 32 candidates to ten
semi-finalists on May 14 based on statistical production. From
there, three finalists will be selected by a national voting panel
on June 3rd prior to the NCAA Super 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 on June 27.
Davidson was an all-region and first-team All-MAC catcher last
spring. Last December, he was named to the Rivals.com
all-conference preseason team after leading the Waynesboro Generals
to a Summer League championship.
Previous Johnny Bench award winners included current Cleveland
Indians Ryan Garko (Stanford University, 2003) and
Kelly Shoppach (Baylor University, 2001).
Edward Easley from Mississippi State University
was the recipient in 2007.
Davidson enters the week with a .292 (7-for-24) batting average, a
home run and seven RBI in as many games. The Zips (3-4) will next
head to Beaumont, Texas this weekend for the Lamar Classic where
they will face Lamar, New York Tech and Buffalo.
Previous Johnny Bench Awards Winners:
2007, Edward Easley, Mississippi State University
2006, Jake Smith, East Carolina University
2005, Jeff Clement, University of Southern California
2004, Kurt Suzuki, California State University-Fullerton
2003, Ryan Garko, Stanford University
2002, Jeremy Brown, University of Alabama
2001, Kelly Shoppach, Baylor University
2000, Brad Cresse, Louisiana State University
