DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA (May 27, 2009) Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon was named one of 30 national semifinalists for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as the nation's premier amateur baseball player, USA Baseball announced Tuesday (May 26) from its headquarters in Durham, N.C.
Rendon, who is also a national semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy as the top college player as selected by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assoc., was last week the first player in Conference USA history to be named both the C-USA Player and C-USA Freshman of the Year in the same season. Rendon is the only freshman among the Golden Spikes Award national semifinalists. The young standout from nearby Lamar High School has had a sensational debut at the Division I level, leading the conference in home runs (19) and leading the Owls in batting average (.375) and rbi (64).
The Golden Spikes Award has been presented to the nation's top amateur player in each of the last 31 years. The names of the 30 semifinalists will now be forwarded to a voting body of 125 who will select the five finalists and the eventual 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winner. The 2009 winner will be announced live at MLB's All-Star FanFest in St. Louis as part of a production by Major League Baseball and MLBAM.
"USA Baseball is proud to recognize the 30 semifinalists and their respective baseball programs for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. "With 25 schools and 14 conferences represented, it is clear that the level of competition within college baseball and for the Golden Spikes Award is as high as ever."
The Rice baseball team begins play in the NCAA Tournament with its home NCAA Regional this Friday (May 29) at Reckling Park. The Owls host longtime rival Sam Houston State at 6 pm. The early game of the Regional features Kansas State and Xavier in a 2 pm start.
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