NCBWA Release
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – (Feb. 13) Sophomore RHP Zach Wolf has been named to the 2017 Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List, released Monday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Fifty-nine total players have been named to the initial Watch List in the 13th year of the award, which is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Wolf was stellar for the Redhawks as a freshman in 2016, amassing 12 saves in 27 total apeparances. He collected a 2.27 ERA and was credited with three combined shutouts. In 35.2 total innings, the Dana Hills, Calif., native collected 28 strikeouts to go along with just six walks.
Wolf's rookie performance led to first team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as well as being named to both the Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team and the NCBWA DI Freshman All-American first team.
He is in good company on the 2017 Watch List as more than a third of the players on the list recorded double-digit saves a season ago and 10 were named to the NCBWA Preseason All-American team.
In total, 23 conferences are represented on this list with the Southeastern Conference following the Pac-12 with seven representatives. Conference USA and the Big West each had four players on this list.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia’s Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas’ Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010. The Longhorns’ Corey Knebel won in 2011, with Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. UCLA’s David Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, Louisville’s Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor and Berg became the award's first two-time winner in 2015. Miami (Fla.)’s Bryan Garcia was honored as the 2016 recipient.
2017 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Mon., Feb. 13: Preseason Watch List
• Wed., April 26: Midseason Watch List
• Wed., June 7: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• Sat., June 17: Stopper of the Year winner announced
Seattle University baseball opens the 2017 season with a four-game homestand beginning Friday, Feb. 17 at Bannerwood Park. The Redhawks wil host SIU Edwardsville with first pitch Friday set for 5 p.m.