IRVINE, Calif. - Army closer Kevin McKague is among 40 players named to the initial watch list for the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, presented annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, it was announced on Thursday.
A hard-throwing right-hander, McKague enjoyed an outstanding season in first turn as Army's closer last spring. In addition to garnering a first team All-Patriot League certificate at first base, McKague topped the conference and ranked 76th nationally with seven saves. That figure stands fifth on Army's single-season chart.
The 6'5" native of Fayetteville, N.C. (Britt H.S.) received mound duty in 23 contests last spring, listing tied for second among league leaders. He posted a 4.57 earned run average while not factoring into a decision. McKague allowed 17 base hits in 21.2 innings of work, striking out 17 and walking 17. He permitted just four extra-base hits and was scored upon in only 4 of 23 appearances.
McKague, who limited opponents to a lowly .215 batting average, pitched to a stingy 1.24 seasonal earned run average when discounting subpar performances against nationally ranked squads Illinois and Texas. He authored a streak of nine consecutive scoreless appearances before a season-ending showing against No. 1 national seed Texas in the Austin Regional, his third pitching appearance within a 30-hour postseason span. He did not allow an earned run in 12 of 13 performances entering that contest.
Last year's Stopper of the Year winner, Addison Reed of San Diego State, headlines the list of preseason nominees for the 2010 award. Reed recorded a nation-leading 20 saves in 20 opportunities last season, finished the year with a microscopic 0.65 earned run average and 38 strikeouts over his 27.2 innings of work. He allowed only seven walks, with two of those being intentional passes, and his save total established new San Diego State and Mountain West Conference season records.
Reed is joined by two of the five finalists for last season's award in LSU's Matty Ott and two-time finalist Eric Pettis of UC Irvine, both NCBWA first team preseason All-Americans.
The Big 12 Conference leads the way with five players named to the preseason watch list. The ACC, Conference USA and SEC features four pitchers each on this year's watch list, while the Pacific-10 Conference is represented by three players.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relation contacts. The initial list will be updated with a midseason release planned for the week of April 19. 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 released Wednesday, June 2, prior to start of NCAA regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced on the opening day of the College World Series on June 19.
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 and San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbing the honor last season.
Milan Dinga (West Point ‘07), Army's single season and career saves leader, is the most recent Black Knight to be named to the preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. He was included on the list in both 2006 and 2007.
After capturing its third Patriot League championship in six years last spring and reaching a regional final for the first time in school history, Army returns to the diamond to begin preseason workouts on Feb. 1. The Black Knights open their 2010 campaign with a split-doubleheader against Dayton and Wake Forest on Feb. 19 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
2010 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
PITCHER, SCHOOL, YR
Steve Arico, Virginia, Jr.
Chris Bassit, Akron, So.
Colin Bates, North Carolina, Jr.
Chad Bettis, Texas Tech, Sr.
Mike Bolsinger, Arkansas, Sr.
Collin Cargill, Southern Miss, Jr.
Andrew Chafin, Kent State, So.
Chase Dempsay, Houston, Jr.
Ryan Duke, Oklahoma, Jr.
Chris Enourato, West Virginia, Sr.
Nick Fleece, Texas A&M, Jr.
Chris Franklin, Southeast Louisiana, Sr.
Drew Gagnier, Oregon, Jr.
Tim Girdwood, Elon, Jr.
Cole Green, Texas, Jr.
Austin Hubbard, Auburn, Sr.
Mitchell Lambson, Arizona State, So.
Justin Malone, Georgia State, So.
Eric Marshall, TCU, Sr.
Cody Martin, Gonzaga, Jr.
Scott Matyas, Minnesota, Jr.
Randy McCurry, Oklahoma State, Jr.
KEVIN McKAGUE, ARMY, JR.
Jarad Miller, Valparaiso, Jr.
Tyler Mizenko, Winthrop, So.
Kevin Moran, Boston College, Jr.
Jake Morgan, Mississippi, Jr.
Kevin Munson, James Madison, Jr.
Matty Ott, LSU, So.
Nick Pepitone, Tulane, Jr.
Eric Pettis, UC Irvine, Sr.
Mark Pope, Georgia Tech, So.
Nick Ramirez, Cal State Fullerton, So.
Addison Reed, San Diego State, So.
Kevin Rhoderick, Oregon State, Jr.
Michael Schum, Wright State, So.
Gabriel Shaw, Louisville, Jr.
Chad Sheppard, Northwestern State, So.
Seth Simmons, East Carolina, Jr.
Zach Varce, Portland, So.
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