Feb. 15, 2008
Columbia, S.C. – Three South Carolina baseball players have been named to the 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List, as announced on Friday afternoon (February 15). James Darnell, Phil Disher and Justin Smoak are three of the 75 collegiate baseball players to be named to the list. South Carolina is one of only five schools to have three representatives on the list.
Smoak was a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as a sophomore last season. He is a preseason All-America choice by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball and hit 22 HR with 72 RBI and a .315 batting average last year. Darnell is also a preseason All-America selection by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball and is the team’s leading returning hitter after hitting .331 as a sophomore with 19 HR and 63 RBI. Disher earned All-America honors last year by the NCBWA and returns for his senior season at the catcher/designated hitter spot after hitting .328 with 15 HR and 63 RBI in the 2007 campaign.
The initial list – the first ever of its kind for the Golden Spikes Award, was nominated by baseball sports information directors across the country. The watch list will also be “rolling” to ensure that athletes who play themselves into consideration by USA Baseball for the Golden Spikes Award are not ignored. The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by Major League Baseball, and 2008 marks the 31st installment of the award.
On May 20, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 50 names. The final list of 50 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff – close to 150 voters in total.
Additionally, for the first time ever, fan voting will be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2008. May 20 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on www.usabaseball.com. As part of this May selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 50 names. On June 3, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award will be presented on July 16.
South Carolina has one past Golden Spikes Award Winner, former pitcher Kip Bouknight, who earned the award after compiling a 17-1 record for the Gamecocks in the 2000 season.
