UH's Dempsay Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List

(photo courtesy of the University of Houston Sports Information Office)

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 19, 2009) Sophomore right-hander Chase Dempsay has been named to the 40-man preseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, given to the nation's top collegiate baseball reliever.

Leading the team with 11 saves, Dempsay became only the fourth player in Cougar single-season history to record double-digit saves. Continuing to set records, he also set freshman records in both wins (eight) and saves.

Dempsay posted an 8-3 record with 49 strikeouts, a 2.53 ERA and a .214 opposing average. If he qualified with enough innings, Dempsay's ERA and opposing batting average would have been team bests and rank among the C-USA Top-10 leaders.

As a true freshman in 2008, Dempsay was named to every major Freshman All-American team and is the only sophomore relief pitcher on the NCBWA preseason All-America squad.

Already this season Dempsay has been named to C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team, CollegeBaseballInsider.com Preseason All-American Team as an Honorable Mention selection and Third Team selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball.

At the end of the regular season, the Division I leader in saves and four other relief pitchers will be selected as the award's finalists. Finalists will be released prior to the beginning of NCAA Regional play on Wednesday, May 27.

From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee will select a winner. The fifth annual winner will be announced in early June.

The Cougars open the 2009 season February 20-22 when they play Kansas State in a weekend, non-conference series at Cougar Field. The series begins at 6:30 p.m. on February 20, continues at 2 p.m. on February 21 and will wrap up at noon on February 22.