Two Conference USA standouts have been named to the list of 16 semifinalists for the 2005 Xanthus-Dick Howser Trophy, given to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player. TCU’s Lance Broadway and Tulane’s Brian Bogusevic are C-USA’s representatives in receiving National Player of the Year consideration.

Broadway is tied for the national lead in wins with a school-record 12. He has also set a new TCU single-season record for strikeouts with 125, recording 10 or more in each of his last three starts. Broadway, who has three complete games and three shutouts, owns a league-low ERA of 1.94 and is allowing opponents to bat just 1.98 against him.

Bogusevic is leader of a strong Tulane pitching staff, posting a 10-1 record to go along with a team-best 2.60 ERA. He has 98 strikeouts in a team-high 97 innings pitched and opponents are hitting just .239 off the lefthander. Bogusevic has limited at the plate due to injury, but in 94 at-bats on the year, he is hitting .351 with seven doubles and 19 RBI.

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

Criteria for consideration for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus is named for Howser.

The membership of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) will choose the Xanthus-Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2005 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

For more information on the Dick Howser Trophy, please visit www.NCBWA.com or www.DickHowserTrophy.com.


2005 XANTHUS-DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS

Brian Bogusevic, P-OF, Tulane
Lance Broadway, P, TCU
Cesar Carillo, P, Miami (Fla.)
Mike Costanzo, P-1B, Coastal Carolina
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Oregon State
Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska
Tyler Greene, SS, Georgia Tech
Luke Hochevar, P, Tennessee
Seth Johnston, SS, Texas
Ian Kennedy, P, Southern California
Ryan Patterson, OF, LSU
Brian Pettway, OF, Ole Miss
Shane Robinson, OF, Florida State
Ricky Romero, P, Cal State Fullerton
Gabe Scott, OF, Alabama
Corey Wimberley, 2B, Alcorn State