Pair of Mainers Highlight 3 NECBL Howser Semi-Finalists
Two Sanford Mainers, first baseman Zander Wiel (2013) and RHP Carson Cross (2011)(Pictured) join Saratoga 3B Matt Beaty (2013) in being named semi-finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.
The Howser Trophy is presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) to the best player in collegiate baseball. Stephen Strasburg, the 2009 Howser winner, played for the NECBL in the summer of 2007.
UConn’s Cross, a redshirt senior, has a 10-2 record, a 2.18 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 99 innings. He is the only American Athletic Conference player named to the list. As a Mainer, Cross appeared in nine games, striking out 27 and walking just seven in over 30 innings.
Vanderbilt’s Wiel hit .321 with two homers and eight RBI in an abbreviated appearance with Sanford. For the Commodores, Wiel has a stat line of .328/.422/.569 with 11 homers, 11 steals and 49 RBI.
Belmont’s Beaty ranks in the top 25 nationally in eight statistical categories, including first in runs batted in (68), fourth in total bases (139), ninth in hits (79), 11th in doubles (21) and 18th in slugging percentage (.659). The leading hitter of the Saratoga Brigade, Beaty hit .262 with a homer and 16 RBI in his NECBL summer. He made the NECBL All-Star team.
The trophy is presented on June 12 at the College World Series in Omaha. The NECBL congratulates these three ballplayers on this outstanding achievement.
