Posted at 6:33 p.m., Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Suzuki wins Johnny Bench Award
Advertiser Staff
Baldwin High alum Kurt Suzuki of national champion Cal State Fullerton received the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top college catcher tonight.The award's namesake, former Cincinnati Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, presented Suzuki with the award at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet in Wichita, Kan.
Suzuki, 20, of Wailuku, Maui, was one of three finalists for the award, which is voted on by a panel of sports media, Division I coaches and scouts.
Suzuki and his parents, Warren and Kathleen, attended tonight's banquet.
A final vote among members of the selection committee occurred during the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., where Suzuki had the game-winning RBI single Sunday as the Titans upset top-ranked Texas, 3-2. Cal State Fullerton won the best-of-three championship series, 2-0.
The other finalists were South Carolina's Landon Powell and North Carolina's Chris Iannetta.
Suzuki's next stop will likely be Vancouver, British Columbia, home of the Oakland Athletics' short-season Class A team. Suzuki was drafted in the second round, 67th overall.
Suzuki's most recent All-America honor was his selection to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association first team. Baseball America, Louisville Slugger and CollegeBaseballInsider.com selected Suzuki to their first teams, while Sports Weekly All-America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association made him a second-team selection.
