Czyz Named To Howser Trophy Watch List
April 28, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas senior pitcher Don Czyz has been named to the watch list for the Dick Howser Trophy presented to the nation’s top college baseball player by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.
Czyz leads the NCAA with 15 saves and has a 5-0 record and 1.21 ERA. Czyz has also been named to the midseason watch list for the second annual NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award and the midseason watch list for the Roger Clemens Award given to the best pitcher in college baseball.
The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2006 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 16, at 9:30 a.m. CDT.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award.
Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.
A Florida native, Howser was a two-time All-America shortstop at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus is named for Howser.
The winner’s name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser permanently displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 107th year of existence in 2006. The organization has long been a vital force in the baseball affairs of the city, both in spring training and during the pursuit of a major league baseball franchise for the Tampa Bay area, and continues its solid role in the 21st century.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport’s only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser’s death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami, 1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas, 1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990; Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick, Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999; Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, P, USC, 2001, Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern U., 2003; Jered Weaver, RHP, Long Beach State, 2004; and Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska, 2005.
2006 DICK HOSWER TROPHY WATCH LISTPos. Name, School2B David Adams, Virginia3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt3B Matt Antonelli, Wake ForestSP Tim Bascom, UCFSS Thomas Berkey, Mississippi StateRP Daniel Best, Southern Miss3B Ronnie Bourquin, Ohio State2B Scott Campbell, GonzagaOF Tyler Colvin, Clemson1B Craig Cooper, Notre Dame2B Ramon Corona, N.C. StateOF Jay Cox, North CarolinaRP Don Czyz, Kansas 3B Zach Daeges, CreightonSP Eddie Degerman, RiceDH/ATH Sean Doolittle, VirginiaSP Johnny Dorn, Nebraska1B Allan Dykstra, Wake ForestC Alex Garabedian, Coll. of Charleston2B Johnny Giavotella, New Orleans3B Neil Giesler, South CarolinaSP Jason Godin, Old Dominion1B Danny Hamblin, ArkansasOF Cyle Hankerd, Southern CaliforniaC Chris Hatcher, UNC WilmingtonSP Bryan Henry, Florida StateSP Danny Ray Herrera, New Mexico3B Wes Hodges, Georgia Tech1B Luke Hopkins, New Mexico StateSP Dan Hudson, Old Dominion1B Chad Huffman, TCURP Ben Hunter, Wake ForestRP Brett Jensen, NebraskaOF Carson Kainer, TexasSS Tom King, TroySS Ryan Khoury, UtahOF Kellen Kulbacki, James MadisonSP Tim Lincecum, WashingtonDH/ATH Brad Lincoln, Houston3B Matt Mangini, N.C. StateC Michael McKenry, Middle TennesseeSP Andrew Miller, North CarolinaC Blake Murphy, Western Carolina2B Jim Negrych, PittsburghRP Vinnie Pestano, Cal State FullertonSP David Price, VanderbiltDH/ATH Jared Prince, Washington StateSP Wes Roemer, Cal State FullertonOF Shane Robinson, Florida StateSS Joaquin Rodriguez, Jackson StateSP Eddie Romero, Fresno StateOF Joe Roundy, Kansas StateRP Cole St. Clair, RiceDH/ATH Joe Savery, RiceDH/ATH Nate Schill, James MadisonOF Shawn Scobee, NevadaDH/ATH J.B. Shuck, Ohio StateOF Quinn Stewart, LSUB Ryan Strieby, KentuckyDH/ATH Damon Sublett, Wichita State3B Kelly Sweppenhiser, VMI RP Andrew Urena, MercerSS Christian Vitters, Fresno State1B Charlie Yarbrough, Eastern Kentucky
