C-USA Produces Two of 10 Semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award - CONFERENCEUSA.COM - The Official Athletic site of The Conference USA

C-USA Produces Two of 10 Semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award
ECU's Smith and UCF's Bono Among the Final 10

	Jake Smith

May 12, 2006

Two Conference USA players are among the 10 semifinalists for the Coleman Company 2006 Johnny Bench Award, given to the nation's top catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. East Carolina senior Jake Smith and UCF senior Ryan Bono represent C-USA on the list of 10 standouts. Voting on the award is conducted by a national committee comprised of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and scouts.

Smith is batting .309 on the season with a team-best 13 doubles, nine home runs and 51 RBI, a figure that ranks fourth in Conference USA. Since missing five games with a leg injury in mid-April, he is 12-for-26 with three home runs and 11 RBI, while slugging at an .808 clip. With 120 career RBI, Smith is closing in on ECU's all-time Top 10 and he has also smacked 25 career home runs.

Bono has excelled in his senior campaign, both behind the dish and with the bat. He is batting .317 with four home runs and 30 RBI. Bono is fourth in school history with 51 doubles. The Lake Mary, Fla. native has appeared in 219 career games, ninth all-time at UCF. Bono is eighth in career history in at-bats (702) and needs just four hits, five walks and two RBI to move into a tie for 10th place in school history in those respective categories. He is also the school's all-time leader in getting hit by a pitch.

A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the 10 semifinalists and sent to the national voting committee at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 1, 2006.

A final vote among the national selection committee will occur during the College World Series. All three finalists and their coaches will be invited to Wichita for the Ninth Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita. Johnny Bench will present the award to the recipient.

The Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award Semifinalists
J.P. Arencibia, Tennessee
Ryan Bono, UCF
Zach Dillon, Baylor
Jeff Kunkel, Michigan
Matt McBride, Lehigh
Michael McKenry, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Newton, Western Kentucky
Eddy Rodriguez, Miami-Fla.
Jake Smith, East Carolina
Chad Tracy, Pepperdine