MSU's Edward Easley Among Three Finalists For Bench Award
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State junior catcher Edward Easley has moved a step closer to winning the 2007 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
The junior from Olive Branch, Miss., has been named one of three finalists for the national honor. Easley enters this weekend’s NCAA Starkville Super Regional with a .367 batting average and team-leading totals in hits (83), runs scored (57), home runs (12) and RBIs (61). Easley, who compiled a 4.0 grade point average during the just-completed spring semester, also leads the Southeastern Conference with 28 base-runners caught stealing and sports a .994 fielding percentage.
The list of finalists for this year’s award also includes Florida State’s Buster Posey and Matt Wieters of Georgia Tech.
Cincinnati Reds great Johnny Bench will present the award at the 10th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet June 27 in Wichita, Kansas.