Alfonso Named to Bench Award Watch List
March 19, 2007 | Baseball
March 19, 2007
WICHITA, Kansas - University of Louisville junior catcher Derrick Alfonso was named to the official watch list for the 2007 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by AT&T it was announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
Alfonso, a third-team All-BIG EAST selection last season batted .313 last season with a .327 average in BIG EAST play. He threw out 18 of 42 runners (.428 %) that attempted to steal against him and committed just eight errors. He pegged 10 of 20 conference baserunners.
This season the junior from Bowling Green is batting .273 with three doubles, two triples, one home run and nine RBI through the teams' first 19 games. Only nine opponents have attempted to steal against him and he has thrown out five of them. He is handling a pitching staff that features a pair of freshman in the weekend rotation and has posted a 3.14 ERA.
The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semifinalists, whom will be announced May 17, 2007. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semifinalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced May 30, 2007 prior to the NCAA 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 at the 10th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2007.
While Bench is remembered for his offense, he may have had the greatest impact behind the plate. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching one-handed and kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips.
Bench's career honors include: National League Rookie of the Year (1968); National League Most Valuable Player (1970, 1972); World Series Most Valuable Player (1976); 14-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. In 1980, he set an endurance record by catching 100+ games for 13 consecutive seasons. Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast.
Release courtesy of GWASC
