Baseball: Hicks Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball all-time and single-season saves leader Matt Hicks has been named to the mid-season Stopper of the Year Watch List by the National Baseball Collegiate Writers Association. The award is given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.

Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. 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 5, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.

The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced during the 2013 College World Series.

Within the last week Hicks has gained sole possession of both the single season and career saves record at Louisiana.

His save in the FAU series opener Friday, April 19 was his 13^th career save breaking a three-way tie with Kraig Schambough (2002-05) and Justin Robichaux (2007-10) for the careeer mark. On Tuesday, April 23 at McNeese State he posted his 10^th save of 2013, breaking a tie with Justin Robichaux, who set the mark with nine in 2008, for the single season record.

Hicks began the 2013 campaign a perfect 8-for-8 in save situations, picking up No. 8 on March 26 at Southeastern Louisiana.

In the first seven appearances for the right-hander from Bridge City, Texas, he left with either a win or a save sprinting out to a 2-0 record with five saves by the end of the third week of the 2013 campaign.

The Ragin’ Cajuns No. 1 option out of the bullpen, Hicks tops the pitching staff with 21 appearances this season. He is presently 10-of-12 in save situations.

Hicks ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference with 10 saves through April 23. At the start of Week No. 11 of the 2013 season, the Cajuns closer ranked Top 20 in the nation.

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 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia’s Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas’ Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010. Texas’ Corey Knebel won in 2011 with Southeastern Louisiana’s Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012.

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.

2013 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Mid-Season Watch List

Pitcher School Yr.

Hugh Adams Florida Atlantic Sr.

Kyle Bartsch South Alabama Sr.

David Berg UCLA So.

Robby Coles Florida State Jr.

Ryan Connolly Coastal Carolina Sr.

Chris Cotton LSU Sr.

Kyle Crockett Virginia Jr.

Jordan Dailey Bethune-Cookman Sr.

Josh Davis Belmont Sr.

Trace Dempsey Ohio State So.

Bubba Derby San Diego State Fr.

Jacob Dorris Texas A&M-Corpus Christi So.

Jacob Evans Oklahoma Fr.

Eric Eck Wofford Jr.

Michael Fain Nevada Fr.

Trevor Frank UC Riverside Sr.

Ian Gibaut Tulane Fr.

Ronnie Glenn Penn So.

Trevor Gott Kentucky Jr.

Gavin Guarrera NC Central Sr.

Preston Hatcher Western Carolina Sr.

Matt Hicks Louisiana Jr.

Dylan Hills Southeastern Louisiana Jr.

Jonathan Holder Mississippi State So.

Brett Huber Mississippi Sr.

Skylar Hunter The Citadel Fr.

Andrew Istler Duke So.

Jason Jester Texas A&M Jr.

Corey Knebel Texas Jr.

Zech Lemond Rice So.

Michael Lorenzen Cal State Fullerton Jr.

Seth Lucio Tennessee Tech So.

Johnny Magliozzi Florida So.

Zach Mawson Rider So.

Sutter McLoughlin Sacramento State Fr.

Brian Miller Vanderbilt So.

Eric Nedeljkovic Miami (Fla.) Sr.

Jordan Piché Kansas Jr.

Reed Reilly Cal Poly So.

Tyler Rogers Austin Peay Sr.

Scott Schultz Oregon State Jr.

Jimmie Sherfy Oregon Jr.

Dan Slania Notre Dame Jr.

Travis Stout Jacksonville State So.

Michael Swanner Pepperdine Jr.

Ryan Thompson Campbell Jr.

Mathew Troupe Arizona So.

Jonathan Van Eaton Memphis Jr.

Tyler Webb South Carolina Sr.

Eric Yardley Seattle Sr.

Nate Young Elon Sr.

— Ragin’ Cajuns —