March 10, 2011
WICHITA, Kan. - For the second straight year, junior Matt Koch was named to the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award Watch List, it was announced by The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission on Thursday. Forty-two catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches, but because the award is given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 6, 2011. Koch is the only catcher from the WCC currently on the list, which can be viewed in its entirety by CLICKING HERE.
The annual award serves to honor those athletes that serve as a team's starting catcher in at least 75% of the games. Nominees that end up playing primarily another position, such as designated hitter, or those that split their time with another catcher in a 50/50 situation will be disqualified from semifinalist selection.
Koch has started all 13 games for the Lions this year, including 11 behind the plate. He is batting .319 with five runs scored, a team-best seven doubles and eight RBI. A major contributor to LMU's 9-4 record, Koch has slugged a team-best .468.
While Bench is remembered for his offense, he may have had the greatest impact behind the plate. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching one-handed and kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips.
Bench's career honors include: National League Rookie of the Year (1968); National League Most Valuable Player (1970, 1972); World Series Most Valuable Player (1976); 14-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. In 1980, he set an endurance record by catching 100+ games for 13 consecutive seasons. Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast.
Mr. Bench presented the 2010 award to TCU catcher, Bryan Holaday. Yasmani Grandal of the University of Miami and Jose Iglesias of Coastal Carolina University were also finalists. Twelve former Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award finalists are currently playing in Major League Baseball.
