Thibault Named Bench Award Semifinalist
5/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 21, 2004
WICHITA, Kan. -
Johnny Bench Award Semifinalists Release
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Gonzaga University sophomore catcher Kiel Thibault has been named one of fifteen semifinalists for this year's Johnny Bench Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate catcher. Thibault currently leads the West Coast Conference in hitting with a .433 average and ranked seventh in the NCAA following last week's baseball action. The native of Jerome, Ida., is four hits shy of matching the school record of 91 hits during a single-season set by Larry Patterson in 1977. Gonzaga is preparing to finish out the 2004 season this weekend with a three-game WCC series against Loyola Marymount University.
Joining Thibault as semifinalists for the 2004 award are Jeff Clement (Southern California), Brad Davis (Long Beach State), Tuff Gosewisch (Arizona State), Aaron Hathaway (Washington), Chris Iannetta (North Carolina), Devin Ivany (South Florida), Jason Jaramillo (Oklahoma State), Mat Liuzza (Louisiana State), Donny Lucy (Stanford), Landon Powell (South Carolina), Erick San Pedro (Miami, FL), Kurt Suzuki (Cal State Fullerton), Craig Tatum (Mississippi State) and Taylor Teagarden (Texas).
The selection committee will now narrow down the field to three finalists which will all attend the award ceremony on June 30, 2004 as Johnny Bench will present the award at the 7th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet. The award is sponsored by the Coleman Company and has been won in previous seasons by Ryan Garko (Stanford - 2003), Jeremy Brown (Alabama - 2002), Kelly Shoppach (Baylor - 2001) and Brad Cresse (Louisiana State - 2000).
