May 20, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State junior starting catcher Tuffy Gosewisch has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2004 Johnny Bench Award. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the list of semifinalists that will compete for the annual award given to the nation's top collegiate catcher.
Gosewisch (Scottsdale) has helped the 13th-ranked Sun Devils to a 37-13 record with his bat and his defense behind the plate. He is hitting .355 (59-for-166) with 13 doubles, two home runs and 42 RBI. He has hit safely in 38 of 50 games this season and is second on the team with 18 multi-hit games.
Defensively, Gosewisch has thrown out 15 of 48 attempted base stealers (31%) and has a stellar .985 FLD%. He has started 49 of ASU's 50 games behind the plate and has seen action in every game. Gosewisch calls his own game and has helped lead ASU's young pitching staff to a 4.35 ERA, second best in the Pac-10.
A committee representing national sportswriters, sportscasters and scouts, narrowed the watch list of fifty-two catchers down to fifteen semifinalists. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 3, 2004.
A final vote among the national selection committee will occur during the College World Series. All three finalists will be invited to Wichita for the 7th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2004 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita. Johnny Bench will present the award to the recipient. Former Sun Devil catcher Casey Myers was a finalist for the award in 2000 and 2001. Here is a look at the 15 semifinalists for the 2004 Johnny Bench Award:
Jeff Clement, Southern California Brad Davis, Long Beach State Tuffy Gosewisch, Arizona State Aaron Hathaway, Washington Chris Iannetta, North Carolina Devin Ivany, South Florida Jason Jaramillo, Oklahoma State Matt Liuzza, Louisiana State Donny Lucy, Stanford Landon Powell, South Carolina Erick San Pedro, Miami Kurt Suzuki, Cal. State - Fullerton Craig Tatum, Mississippi State Taylor Teagarden, Texas Kiel Thibault, Gonzaga