Feb. 15, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Nittany Lion closer Drew O'Neil is among 40 relief pitchers from across the country that have been named to the preseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award. The award is in its fourth year of existence and is given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
O'Neil certainly meets the criteria of the award as he will be one of the top closers in the country this year. The junior, who was an eighth round pick of the Cincinnati Reds last June but elected to return to Penn State, set a school record for saves in a single season last year with 11 and with just five saves this year will break the school career record for saves. O'Neil did not allow a single earned run to Big Ten teams during the regular season last year as he compiled a 1.34 ERA and a 4-2 record in 33.2 innings to go along with a .188 opponents' batting average against.
The watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award is just the latest preseason honor for the Roswell, Ga. native, as he was named to the preseason watch list for the Wallace Award, a Louisville Slugger preseason third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, a second team preseason All-American by Ping!Baseball, and first team preseason All-Big Ten by Rivals.com.
The initial list will be updated with a mid-season watch list the week of April 14, including national saves leaders. At the end of the regular season, the national saves leader in Division I and four other relief pitchers will be picked as finalists and they will be announced on Wednesday, May 28, two days prior to the start of NCAA Regionals. The winner of the Stopper of the Year Award will be selected on Wednesday, June 4, two days prior to the start of NCAA Super Regionals. Prior winners of the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award include J. Brent Cox of Texas (2005), Don Czyz of Kansas (2006) and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State (2007).
The Nittany Lions will begin their season exactly one week from today, on February 22 at High Point.
The complete NCBWA release can be viewed here http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2008/stopper080214.html
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