LUBBOCK, Texas - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns junior right-handed pitcher Danny Farquhar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was one of five Sun Belt Conference players named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List Friday.
Last season, Farquhar earned second team All-Sun Belt honors after posting a 6-3 record on the mound. He started the season as a closer before making his way into the starting role, recording a team-best six saves. Farquhar also struck out 115 batters, while walking just 22 in 87 2/3 innings of work. He finished the season ranked ninth among NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings.
Farquhar's selection marked the fourth consecutive season that a Ragin' Cajun was named to the list. In 2005, Dallas Morris became Louisiana's first honoree on the preseason poll. He was followed by Josh Landry in 2006 and Hunter Moody last season.
The Wallace Award is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech.
Last year's Brooks Wallace Award went to Vanderbilt pitcher David Price, who was the first overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft and is currently pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Houston's Brad Lincoln won the award in 2006, while Nebraska's Alex Gordon took home the trophy in 2005. The inaugural award was given to Cal State Fullerton's Kurt Suzuki in 2004.
The Wallace Award is a dedication to the memory of former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80. A four-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District his senior year. He led the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament in 1980. After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27.
For complete list of the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List candidates and previous winners, please visit www.CollegeBaseballFoundation.org