May 11, 2006
WACO, Texas - Baylor baseball's Zach Dillon was named a semifinalist for the 2006 Coleman Johnny Bench Award, the Greater Wichita [Kan.] Area Sports Commission announced Thursday. Dillon was the only catcher from the Big 12 Conference selected to 10-man list.
Dillon is the third Baylor catcher to reach semifinalist status for the Bench Award. Josh Ford was a semifinalist in 2003, and Kelly Shoppach won the inaugural Bench Award in 2001.
Other catchers named semifinalists were J.P. Arencibia of Tennessee, Ryan Bono of Central Florida, Jeff Kunkel of Michigan, Matt McBride of Lehigh, Michael McKenry of Middle Tennessee State, Jordan Newton of Western Kentucky, Eddy Rodriguez of Miami, Fla., Jake Smith of East Carolina and Chad Tracy of Pepperdine. The list will be pared to three finalists June 1 with the winner named June 28 at the Ninth-Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet.
Dillon, a senior co-captain from Urbandale, Iowa, is 10th in the Big 12 with a .371 batting average. He also leads the conference in walks (44), on base percentage (.512), free passes (50) and times reached base (109). Dillon ranks 14th nationally, averaging 0.90 walks per game and is on pace to break Baylor's singe-season records for walks and on base percentage.
The Bench Award is selected by a committee comprised of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and scouts.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, hosting No. 5 Nebraska for a three-game Big 12 Conference series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears and the Huskers meet Friday at 7 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
