May 20, 2005
Mizzou sophomore right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer has been named a semifinalist for the Clemens Award, given to the nation's top pitcher. He is among 10 semifinalists, three of which will be named finalist on June 3. The award will be handed out on June 14 in Houston.
Scherzer is 8-2 on the season with a 1.22 ERA and 117 strikeouts. His ERA leads the Big 12 Conference and is fourth best in the nation. The 117 strikeouts also leads the Big 12 and ranks 11th in the nation. He is just 11 strikeouts away from breaking the school record for K's in a season.
Along with being a Clemens Award semifinalist, Scherzer is on the watch list for the Xanthus Dick Howser Award, the Golden Spikes Award and the Wallace Award.
Created in 2004, The Roger Clemens Award honors the top pitcher in college baseball. The event is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association, who donated $80,000 to the designated beneficiaries (The Roger Clemens Foundation, The Karl Young Summer College Baseball League and Baseball USA) from the net proceeds from the first annual dinner. The GHBA is a non-profit 501.3 (C) organization dedicated to the growth of amateur baseball in the Houston area.
The Roger Clemens Award was named after future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, who began his march to stardom while leading the University of Texas to the College World Series title in 1983. Entering the 2005 major league season, Clemens has won over 330 games, fanned over 4,000 hitters and won and seven Cy Young Awards, emblematic as the top pitcher in his league. The Roger Clemens Award is the only award of its kind, honoring the finest pitchers in college baseball.
Scherzer will be on the mound on Friday, as No. 20 Missouri takes on No. 9 Baylor in Waco, Texas at 7 p.m.
Clemens Award Semifinalist
Ricky Romero, Cal State-Fullerton
Brian Bogusevic, Tulane
Dallas Buck, Oregon State
Cesar Carillo, Miami
Mike Pelfrey, Wichita State
Lance Broadway, TCU
Luck Hochevar, Tennessee
Ian Kennedy, Southern California
Cesar Ramos, Long Beach State
Max Scherzer, Missouri