COMPLETE LIST

WICHITA, Kan. – Eastern Kentucky University senior catcher Joey Stevens has been named to the 2010 Coleman Company – Johnny Bench Award Watch List. The award is presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission and is given annually to the nation’s top catcher.

On Saturday at Western Carolina, Stevens batted 2-for-4 with four RBI and crushed an opposite field three-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth that untied the contest and proved to be the game-winner as the Colonels prevailed, 12-9.

Last season, the Middleburg, Fla. native belted three home runs and posted 34 RBI while throwing out a solid 30 percent of base runners who attempted to steal on him. In early March of 2009, he delivered one of the most important hits of the game, an opposite field two-run home run, in the Colonels’ upset of No. 25 Louisville. He then went 3-for-6 with two RBI, including the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth, in EKU’s near upset of No. 29 Kentucky one day later.

The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semifinalists, whom will be announced May 19, 2010. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 2, 2010 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1, 2010.

The Johnny Bench Award was created in 2000 and previous winners include Stanford’s Ryan Garko (2003), Cal State Fullerton’s Kurt Suzuki (2004) and Florida State’s Buster Posey (2008).

Stevens and the rest of the EKU baseball team return to action on Wednesday, March 3, when they travel down I-75 to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.