Ronnie Bourquin Named Semifinalist for Dick Howser Trophy – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State players Ronnie Bourquin has been named one of 16 finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, announced Thursday.
Bourquin, a junior from Canton, Ohio (Canton South), leads all Big Ten batters with a .426 batting average, 81 hits and 59 RBI. The Buckeyes’ third baseman has 13 doubles, two triples and five home runs for a slugging percentage of .595. Bourquin is the front-runner for Big Ten Player of the Year honors and currently leads the conference in average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage (.505), hits and RBI. He has hit in all but nine of the 50 games he has played and started. He rode a career-long 14-game hit streak and has reached base safely in all but five games this season. Bourquin is one of just two third basemen to appear on the list, joining Creighton’s Zach Daeges.
The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2006 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 16, at 11 a.m. EDT. The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-American shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award.
Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport’s only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser’s death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami, 1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas, 1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990; Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick, Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999; Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, P, USC, 2001, Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern U., 2003; Jered Weaver, RHP, Long Beach State, 2004; and Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska, 2005.
2006 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS Pos. Name, School 1B Andy D’Alessio, Clemson 3B Ronnie Bourquin, OHIO STATE SP Eddie Degerman, Rice OF Luke Gorsett, Nebraska SS Tom King, Troy OF Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison SP Tim Lincecum, Washington SP/DH/ATH Brad Lincoln, Houston C Michael McKenry, Middle Tennessee SP Andrew Miller, North Carolina 2B Jim Negrych, Pittsburgh OF Shane Robinson, Florida State SP Wes Roemer, Cal State Fullerton 1B Ryan Strieby, Kentucky DH/ATH Damon Sublett, Wichita State 3B Zach Daeges, Creighton
