UF's Austin Maddox Named To Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List By NCBWA
Thursday, April 19, 2012 | Baseball
Florida junior right-hander Austin Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.) has been named to the 2012 Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List for the nation's top closer by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the organization announced on Thursday.
Maddox is one of 45 players named to the list at the halfway point of the season and one of eight pitchers from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC leads the way with more players named to the Watch List than any other conference.
Maddox is a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities this season and is three shy of the school's single-season mark of 13 held by Danny Wheeler (1994) and Josh Fogg (1998). Over a team-leading 21 appearances, the righty is 2-2 with a 2.00 earned run average and has notched 41 strikeouts in 36 innings of work while limiting opponents to a .197 batting average.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information and media relations contacts around the country. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and announced on Wednesday, June 6, prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced during the 2012 College World Series.
It is the eighth season that the NCBWA has presented the award to the nation's top closer. The organization, which was founded in 1962, also presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and selects All-America teams for all Divisions.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006, Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia's Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbing the honor in 2009, Texas' Chance Ruffin earning the honor in 2010 and Texas freshman Corey Knebel winning it last season.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.
Maddox and the top-ranked Gators (29-8/9-6 SEC) will take the field this weekend for a three-game series against Georgia (23-15/7-8 SEC), beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. at McKethan Stadium.
2012 NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List
| Pitcher | School | Year |
| R.J. Alvarez | Florida Atlantic | Jr. |
| Barrett Astin | Arkansas | So. |
| Jake Barrett | Arizona State | Jr. |
| Robert Benincasa . | Florida State | Jr. |
| Nick Blount | Tennessee | Jr. |
| Tony Bryant | Oregon State | Jr. |
| Tyler Burgess | Missouri State | Fr. |
| Chase Byerly | Butler | Jr. |
| J.T. Chargois | Rice | Jr. |
| Scott Coffman | New Mexico State | Sr. |
| Blake Dieterich | Georgia | Jr. |
| Michael Dimock | Wake Forest | Sr. |
| Matt Duncan | Morehead State | Jr. |
| Cale Elam | Wichita State | So. |
| E.J. Encinosa | Miami (Fla.) | Jr. |
| Garrett Fanchier | Belmont | Sr. |
| Matt Gardner | Nevada | Sr. |
| Mike Gomez | FIU | Jr. |
| Nick Goody | LSU | Jr. |
| Trevor Gott | Kentucky | So. |
| Scott Griggs | UCLA | Jr. |
| Preston Hatcher | Western Carolina | Jr. |
| Brett Huber | Ole Miss | Jr. |
| Nathan Hyatt | Appalachian State | Sr. |
| Owen Jones | Portland | Sr. |
| Corey Knebel | Texas | So. |
| Kenny Long | Illinois State | Sr. |
| Stefan Lopez | Southeastern Louisiana | Jr. |
| Michael Lorenzen | Cal State Fullerton | So. |
| Austin Maddox | FLORIDA | Jr. |
| Mason Marshall | BYU | Fr. |
| Tanner Merritt | East Carolina | So. |
| Michael Morin | North Carolina | Jr. |
| Chris O'Grady | George Mason | Jr. |
| David Peterson | College of Charleston | Sr. |
| Robbie Powell | Stetson | Sr. |
| Dustin Quattrocchi | SIUE | Sr. |
| Caleb Reed | Mississippi State | Sr. |
| Joe Rogers | UCF | Jr. |
| Derek Self | Louisville | Sr. |
| Jimmie Sherfy | Oregon | So. |
| Chad Sobotka | USC Upstate | Fr. |
| Justin Thompson | Virginia | Sr. |
| Michael Wagner | San Diego | So. |
| Nick Wittgren | Purdue | Jr. |
