May 13, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – USC senior catcher Landon Powell has been named by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award. The NCBWA, working in Association with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, has released the list of 30 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball.
Powell leads USC with a .364 batting average on the year including 14 home runs and 55 RBI. Powell has started and played all 49 games this year and owns a .998 fielding percentage with just one error behind the plate. The senior from New Hill, N.C. has also been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List (top collegiate catcher) as well as the Golden Spikes Award Watch List (top amateur baseball player – USA Baseball).
The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2004 winner will announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m. CDT.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award.
Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.
The winner’s name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser permanently displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.
The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in its 105th year of existence in 2004. The organization has long been a vital force in the baseball affairs of the city, both in spring training and during the pursuit of a major league baseball franchise for the Tampa Bay area, and continues its solid role in the 21st Century.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport’s only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
