ECU's Packard named semifinalist for Dick Howser Trophy
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DALLAS, Texas – ECU sophomore Bryant Packard has been named one of 35 semifinalists for the 2018 Dick Howser Trophy the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced Thursday afternoon. The award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting.
Packard, one of two representatives from the American Athletic Conference, leads the Pirates in eight offensive categories including average (.409), hits (74), home runs (12), runs (42), RBI (45), total bases (122) and slugging percentage (.674), while ranking second in on-base percentage (.466).
The Greenville, N.C. native, who was 2-or-5 against UCONN in the series opener, set the school record for games with a consecutive hit (30) with his single in the fifth inning on Thursday. During his 30-game hit streak, Packard is batting .448 (56-for-125) with 10 home runs, eight doubles, 30 RBI 33 runs scored, 17 multi-hit games and 18 extra base hits.
Packard joins fellow classmate Jake Washer who have been named semifinalists for national awards this season. Washer was one of 16 named to the 2018 Johnny Bench List on Wednesday, May 16 given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
2018 Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists (in alphabetical order)
Pos. Name, School
Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
Seth Beer, OF, Clemson
Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
Brian Brown, SP, NC State
Michael Byrne, RP, Florida
Chase Chambers, 1B, Tennessee Tech
Kody Clemens, 2B, Texas
Chase Cockrell, DH, Ole Miss
Kole Cottam, 1B, Kentucky
Greg Cullen, SS, Niagara
Will Dalton, OF, Florida
Logan Gilbert, SP, Stetson
Devlin Grandberg, OF, Dallas Baptist
Luke Heimlich, SP, Oregon State
Luke Heyer, 3B, Kentucky
Alex Holderbach, C, Eastern Kentucky
Jonathan India, 3B, Florida
Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
Grant Little, OF, Texas Tech
Jack Little, RP, Stanford
Nick Madirgral, 2B, Oregon State
Casey Mize, SP, Auburn
Bryant Packard, OF, ECU
Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Nick Sandlin, SP, Southern Miss
Braden Schwemake, SS, Texas A&M
Brady Singer, SP, Florida
Bren Spillane, 1B, Illinois
Kevin Strohschein, DH, Tennessee Tech
Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
Spencer Torkerlson, 1B, Arizona State
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California
Steele Walker, OF, Oklahoma
Will Wilson, SS, NC State
This is the 32nd year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 8. The 2018 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 15 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2018 CWS.