PALO ALTO, Calif. ?- Arizona junior Nick Hundley has been named one of 10 semi-finalists for the 2005 Johnny Bench Award presented to the top collegiate catcher in the nation, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced today.

            The leading home run hitter for Arizona this season, Hundley is batting .348 with 13 home runs, 50 runs scored and 40 RBI. He has started 49 of Arizona’s 50 games behind the plate this year, including the last 36 straight.

A panel representing national sportswriters, sportscasters and scouts, narrowed the watch list of 37 catchers down to ten semi-finalists.

A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and sent to the national voting committee at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 1, 2005.

A final vote among the national selection committee will occur during the College World Series. All three finalists and their coaches will be invited to Wichita for the 8th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 29, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita. Johnny Bench will present the award to the recipient.

The Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award semi-finalists are (in alphabetical order):

Andrew Butera, University of Central Florida

Jeff Clement, University of Southern California

Greg Dini, Tulane University

Tuffy Gosewisch, Arizona State University

Brett Hayes, University of Nevada

Nick Hundley, University of Arizona

Jeff Kunkel, University of Michigan

Caleb Moore, East Tennessee State University

Taylor Teagarden, University of Texas

Sean Richardson, University of Kansas