Berset Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
3/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior catcher Chris Berset (Vienna, Va./Heights School) was one of 53 catchers named to the official watch list for the 2010 Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award delivered by Papa John's Pizza. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission made the announcement on Monday (March 1). The award is given annually to the top NCAA Division I collegiate catcher.
The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists that will be announced May 19, 2010. The finalists will then be announced June 2, 2010, prior to NCAA Regional action and the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series and the winner will be announced July 1, 2010.
Berset is a career .275 hitter with six home runs and 59 runs batted in to his credit. A 2010 captain, he has proven himself a strong asset behind the plate for the Maize and Blue, posting a .980 fielding percentage and guiding Michigan to a 66-33 record when starting at catcher. During his junior campaign, Berset posted career highs in doubles, walks and RBI while hitting at .296-clip.
Berset's predecessor behind the plate at Michigan, Jeff Kunkel (2003-06), was a semifinalist for the Bench Award in 2005 before reaching the finals for the award in 2006.
Michigan will take on Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday (March 3) in Fort Myers, Fla. Berset and the Wolverines will see a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423
