HOUSTON - Reigning two-time Sun Belt Conference and LSWA Pitcher of the Week Hunter Moody (Clinton, La.) was one of 78 pitchers Tuesday named to the preliminary watch list for the fifth annual Roger Clemens Award, which is given to the best pitcher in college baseball. This honor marks the third consecutive season Moody has been named to the Rogers Clemens Award Watch List.
Earlier on Tuesday, Moody was named the LSWA Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week. Moody (2-0), the reigning Sun Belt and Louisiana Sportswriters Association Pitcher of the Week, threw another gem on Sunday, combining for his second shutout in two starts to open the 2008 season. Moody struck out a season-high 10 batters to help Louisiana snap a five-game losing streak in a 2-0 win Sunday.
Moody scattered four hits in seven innings - three of Moody's four hits allowed were bunt singles. In 13 innings, the southpaw has been victimized for just five hits, while striking out a team-high 19 batters. Opponents are batting .119 against the Preseason All-Sun Belt selection.
Monday's SBC Pitcher of the Week honor was Moody's fourth of his heralded career at Louisiana. His victory Sunday was his 24th as a Cajun, moving him into a tie for fourth place with Phil Devey (1997-99) on the school's career list. Moody, who trails Andy Gros (2000-03) and Scott Dohmann (2002-05) by two wins, needs three more to become the school's all-time leader. Moody also ranks in the career Top 10 in games started (40) and innings pitched (268.1).
Moody's four weekly Sun Belt Conference honors are the second-most in school history behind Kevin Ardoin (2002-05), who finished with five. Moody (2006, 2008) and Ardoin (2004, 2005) are the only two pitchers in Cajuns history to be named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week twice in the same season.
The finalists for the 2008 Roger Clemens Award will be selected in voting by a national panel that includes all Division I head baseball coaches, a selection of national media who cover collegiate baseball and the 16 winners of the R.E. "Bob" Smith Award, which was presented to the top player in the country in Houston from 1988-2003. In addition, the 13 previous finalists for the Clemens Award are also issued ballots. The 2008 award will be presented this summer.
The event is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association, which has donated more than $300,000 to charity from the net proceeds from the first four dinners. The GHBA is a non-profit 501.3 (C) organization dedicated to the growth of amateur baseball in the Houston area.
RaginCajuns.com
Chris Yandle