Dykstra, Hunter Named to Preseason Watch Lists
12/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 18, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
Wake Forest baseball players Allan Dykstra and Ben Hunter have been named to the preseason Wallace Watch List and Clemens Watch List, respectively.
The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. The selection committee for the Wallace Award is comprised of a national panel of coaches, sports information directors, former winners and beat media who most closely follow the sport.
As a freshman, Dykstra earned Rivals.com, Baseball America and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors, as well as ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC second team. The San Diego, Calif., native led the Demon Deacons in slugging percentage (.670), on-base percentage (.479), RBI (56), home runs (15), walks (51), sacrifice flies (9) and tied for the team-high in games played (55) and started (55). The first baseman led the ACC in OPS, slugging percentage and was tied for the lead in sacrifice flies. Dykstra also ranked second in home runs, third in walks and tied for third in on-base percentage.
The Roger Clemens Award was named after future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, and the watch list is comprised of 62 collegiate pitchers. The finalists for the 2007 Roger Clemens Award will be selected in voting by a national panel.
Hunter went 1-2 with a 1.47 earned run average and 14 saves over 33 relief appearances in 2006. The 14 saves and 11.54 strikeouts per nine innings not only led the ACC, but also ranked sixth and 10th in those same categories nationally. Hunter was second in the ACC in ERA (fifth in the NCAA) and third in opponents batting average of .193. The Cincinnati, Ohio native was 14-for-15 in save opportunities this season. Hunter struck out a team-best 70 and walked just 17 in 55.0 innings of work. The 14 saves are the most for a Wake Forest pitcher since former All-American Dave Bush had 16 in 2001 and ranks tied for the second-most in single-season school history.
Dykstra, Hunter and the rest of the Demon Deacon baseball team will open the 2007 season with Kent State at home on Feb. 16.
-- WakeForestSports.com --
