Maryland's John McCurdy Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
5/10/2002 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2002
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Maryland junior shortstop John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.) to its list of semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given annually to the nation's top collegiate baseball player. McCurdy is one of 40 players selected by the NCBWA, which will announce the 2002 winner at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 14, at 10:30 a.m.
McCurdy is in the process of rewriting Maryland's record books with one of the nation's most spectacular statistical seasons. The All-America candidate has led the Terps to the first 30-win season in school history by pacing the team in every offensive category as well as ranking among the ACC and NCAA leaders in several categories.
McCurdy set the Terps' all time single-season record with 42 extra-base hits and is currently second in Maryland single-season history with 75 RBI, 94 hits, 175 total bases and a .866 slugging percentage. As of May 10, McCurdy was second in the ACC with a .460 batting average and 18 home runs while leading the conference in hits, runs, RBI, total bases and slugging percentage. He could become the ACC's first triple crown winner since 1999.
The Dick Howser Trophy, named for the former Florida State All-America shortstop, major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for award consideration include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities exemplified by Howser's life.
Past winners include Oklahoma State's Robin Ventura (1988), Georgia Tech's Jason Varitek (1994), Florida State's J. D. Drew (1997), Georgia Tech's Mark Teixeira (2000) and USC's Mark Prior (2001).
2002 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTSSS Russ Adams, North Carolina 2B Eric Arnold, Rice 3B Jeff Baker, Clemson SP Kyle Bakker, Georgia Tech UT/ATH Ryan Barthelemy, Florida State OF Adam Berry, UCLA SP Ryan Bicandoa, Western Kentucky C Jeremy Brown, Alabama UT/ATH Whit Bryant, Elon OF Matt Buckmiller, Columbia SP Bryan Bullington, Ball State RP Dave Bush, Wake Forest C David Castillo, Oral Roberts OF Vito Chiaravallotti, Richmond OF Jason Cooper, Stanford RP Chad Cordero, Cal State Fullerton SP Lance Cormier, Alabama UT/ATH Jesse Crain, Houston 1B Nat Gold, Gonzaga SS Khalil Greene, Clemson 1B Conor Jackson, California OF Mark Jurich, Louisville 2B James Jurries, Tulane OF Ryan Kenning, New Mexico State SS Mark Kiger, Florida UT/ATH Chris Maples, North Carolina UT/ATH John McCurdy, Maryland SS Drew Meyer, South Carolina SP Scooter Michael, UNC Greensboro C Pat O'Brien, Kent State 2B Chris O'Riordan, Stanford SS Yaron Peters, South Carolina RP Royce Ring, San Diego State SP Justin Simmons, Texas SP Kyle Sleeth, Wake Forest OF Steve Stanley, Notre Dame SP Tim Stauffer, Richmond SP Brad Sullivan, Houston RP Blake Taylor, South Carolina 2B Rickie Weeks, Southern
