June 5, 2008

Mizzou junior Aaron Crow has been named one of four finalists for the 2008 Roger Clemens Award, which is given to the nation's top collegiate pitcher. He is also among a group of four finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, which goes to college baseball's best player.

Joining Crow as Clemens Award finalist are Joshua Fields of Georgia, Chris Hernandez of Miami (Fla.) and Brian Matusz of San Diego. The winner will be announced this summer in Houston.The four pitchers were selected from a field of 10 semifinalists in a national vote of all Division-I head baseball coaches, selected national college baseball media, previous winners of the R. E. "Bob" Smith Award, which was presented to the top player in college baseball in 1988-2003, and the 13 previous finalists for the Clemens Award.

The other three finalist for the Howser Trophy are Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham, Florida State catcher Buster Posey and Arizona State third baseman Brett Wallace.

Crow was 13-0 with a 2.35 earned run average in 2008. The junior from Wakarusa, Kan. (Washburn Rural HS) was the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and is also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He struck out 127 opponents in 107.1 innings.

Final voting for the 2008 Clemens Award will begin on June 16. David Price of Vanderbilt won the fourth Clemens Award last July, joining Andrew Miller of North Carolina (2006), Luke Hochevar of Tennessee (2005) and Jered Weaver of Long Beach State (2004) in being honored with college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award.

The Clemens Award was named after pitching legend Roger Clemens, who began his march to stardom while leading the University of Texas to the College World Series title in 1983. As a major-leaguer, Clemens won 354 games (eighth best in history), fanned 4,672 hitters and won 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.

The event is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association, which has donated more than $300,000 to the charities from the net proceeds from the first four dinners. The GHBA is a non-profit 501.3 (C) organization dedicated to the growth of amateur baseball in the Houston area.

One member of this quartet of finalist for the Howser Trophy will be named the winner at a news conference on Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. (CDT) at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce (1301 Harney St.), as the recipient of the award, given annually since 1987.

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 Rays. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has had over 100 years of community service since its founding in 1899. 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.

The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami, 1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas, 1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990; Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick, Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J.D. Drew, Florida State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999; Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, Southern California, 2001; Khalil Greene, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, Southern, 2003; Jered Weaver, Long Beach State, 2004; Alex Gordon, Nebraska, 2005; Brad Lincoln, Houston, 2006; and David Price, Vanderbilt, 2007.