DURHAM, N.C. — LSU pitcher Louis Coleman is one of the 30 semifinalists announced by USA Baseball Tuesday for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA). This year will mark the 32nd consecutive year that the award has been presented to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player.
This also marks the second year in a row that GoldenSpikesAward.com ? powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball ? will be the online home for the award. The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past-winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2009 semifinalists. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to five finalists on Tuesday, June 2, en route to the announcement of this year’s winner on Tuesday, July 14.
The 2009 GSA will be awarded live at MLB’s All-Star FanFest in St. Louis as part of a production by Major League Baseball and MLBAM. Online footage of the event will be found shortly thereafter, exclusively at GoldenSpikesAward.com and MLB.com.
Coleman, senior from Schlater, Miss., was named the 2009 Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year last week. He is 11-2 this season with a 2.84 ERA in 93 innings. Coleman has recorded 19 walks and 111 strikeouts, and opponents are batting just .214 against him.
Coleman earned his LSU degree in agricultural business earlier this month.
Other headlines among the semifinalists are Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Chris Dominguez (Louisville), Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State) and Alex White (North Carolina), all of whom were also 2008 GSA semifinalists.
Five schools lead the way with two semifinalists each (Arizona State, Indiana, Louisville, San Diego State, and North Carolina). In total, 25 colleges and universities are represented on the 2009 semifinalist list. Among conferences, the Atlantic Coast Conference is tops with five players on the list, and the Big XII has four.
In 2007, USA Baseball instituted a new selection and balloting procedure for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, and it will follow the same model again in 2009. After accepting nominations from sports information directors across the country, a committee voted to determine the 30 semifinalists. The names of the 30 semifinalists will now be forwarded to a voting body of 125 who will select the five finalists and the eventual 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winner.
“USA Baseball is proud to recognize the 30 semifinalists and their respective baseball programs for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “With 25 schools and 14 conferences represented, it is clear that the level of competition within college baseball and for the Golden Spikes Award is as high as ever.”
About the Golden Spikes Award
For the past 31 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award winner was Buster Posey of Florida State. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as David Price (’07), Tim Lincecum (’06), Alex Gordon (’05), Jered Weaver (’04), Rickie Weeks (’03), Khalil Greene (’02), Jason Jennings (’00), Pat Burrell (?98), J.D. Drew (’97), Mark Kotsay (’95), and Jason Varitek (’94). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Robin Ventura (’88), Jim Abbott (’87), Will Clark (’85), Dave Magadan (’83), Terry Francona (’80), Tim Wallach (’79), and Bob Horner (’78).
A list of the 30 semifinalists is below (and attached).
Name, School, Year, Position
Dustin Ackley, North Carolina, Junior, 1B
Eric Arnett, Indiana , Junior, RHP
Buddy Baumann, Missouri State, Junior, LHP
Kyle Bellamy, Miami, Junior, RHP
Daniel Bibona, UC Irvine, Junior, LHP
Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee, Sophomore, OF/RHP
Louis Coleman, LSU, Senior, RHP
Chris Dominguez, Louisville, Junior, 3B
Josh Fellhauer, Cal State Fullerton, Junior, OF
Kyle Gibson, Missouri, Junior, RHP
Jason Kipnis, Arizona State, Junior, OF
Marc Krauss, Ohio, Junior, IF/OF
Mike Leake, Arizona State, Junior, RHP
Justin Marks, Louisville, Junior, LHP
Bryan Marquez, New Mexico State, Senior, 2B
Kent Matthes, Alabama, Senior, OF
Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, Sophomore, RHP
Tommy Mendonca, Fresno State, Junior, 3B
A.J. Morris, Kansas State, Junior, RHP
Josh Phegley, Indiana , Junior, C
Rich Poythress, Georgia, Junior, 1B
Brooks Raley, Texas A&M, Sophomore, LHP/OF
Addison Reed, San Diego State, Sophomore, RHP
Anthony Rendon, Rice, Freshman, 3B
Tony Sanchez, Boston College, Junior, C
Angelo Songco, Loyola Marymount, Junior, OF
Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State, Junior, RHP
Alex White, North Carolina, Junior, RHP
Alex Wimmers, Ohio State, Sophomore, RHP
J.T. Wise, Oklahoma, Senior, C/INF