June 5, 2007
WICHITA, Kan. – Georgia Tech junior All-American Matt Wieters has been named a finalist for the 2007 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award delivered by AT&T, the Wichita Sports Commission announced late Tuesday afternoon.
The award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, which is scheduled to be held Wednesday, June 27 in Wichita, Kansas. Joining Wieters as finalists for the award, which is voted on by Division I baseball coaches, are Edward Easley of Mississippi State and Buster Posey of Florida State.
Wieters led the Yellow Jackets in home runs (10), RBI (59), total bases (129) and slugging percentage (.592) in 2007 and led all ACC catchers in slugging percentage, on base percentage, HR/gm (0.18), BB/gm (0.90), and TB/gm (2.26). He finished his junior season ranked tied for sixth in the Tech career record books with 54 doubles, seventh with 198 RBI and 16 saves, 13th in average (.359) and total bases (418), tied for 16th with 35 home runs and 18th with 253 hits in his three years on the Flats.
A final vote among the national selection committee is scheduled to occur during the College World Series. All three finalists and their coaches are invited to Wichita for the 10th-Annual Great Wichita Sports Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita.
Previous winners of the prestigious award include: Jake Smith, East Carolina (2006), Jeff Clement, Southern California (2005), Kurt Suzuki, CS Fullerton (2004), Ryan Garko, Stanford (2003), Jeremy Brown, Alabama (2002), Kelly Shoppach, Baylor (2001) and Brad Cresse, LSU (2000).
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