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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thornton named Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist
5/23/2023 7:44:00 PM | Baseball
Lopes junior lefty on list of 60 semifinalists for nation's top player
Grand Canyon junior left-hander Zach Thornton was named to a list of 60 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, an elite college baseball honor given to the nation's top player.
Thornton — along with sophomore righty Daniel Avitia — has been one of GCU's two aces in the weekend pitching rotation. He earned All-WAC second-team honors and was tied for the conference's lead with seven wins in conference play.
"The Dick Howser Trophy is 36 years old and continues to increase in prominence and the scope of its reach increases exponentially each year," said David Feaster, chairman of the Howser Trophy Committee. "I am so proud of the character quality we have in our award, which makes it unique. I am also proud of our selection process by the NCBWA which is the most democratic of any award and provides a true national scope."
The trophy is selected through multiple rounds of voting by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. It is given in memory of the former Florida State All-American shortstop and major league player and manager and is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
In addition for tying the WAC lead in wins, Thornton tied for the most innings pitched in conference play (60 1/3 innings) and finished in the top 10 in ERA (ninth, 4.33) and strikeouts (fifth, 55). Thornton is a two-time WAC Pitcher of the Week and opened conference action with 13 strikeouts in a scoreless seven-inning outing against New Mexico State.
Thornton is one of two WAC members to be selected as a semifinalist, alongside Sam Houston first baseman Tyler Davis.
The Lopes continue their quest for a third consecutive NCAA tournament bids with this week's WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, where they will open with a 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The 60 Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists:
Thornton — along with sophomore righty Daniel Avitia — has been one of GCU's two aces in the weekend pitching rotation. He earned All-WAC second-team honors and was tied for the conference's lead with seven wins in conference play. "The Dick Howser Trophy is 36 years old and continues to increase in prominence and the scope of its reach increases exponentially each year," said David Feaster, chairman of the Howser Trophy Committee. "I am so proud of the character quality we have in our award, which makes it unique. I am also proud of our selection process by the NCBWA which is the most democratic of any award and provides a true national scope."
The trophy is selected through multiple rounds of voting by members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. It is given in memory of the former Florida State All-American shortstop and major league player and manager and is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
In addition for tying the WAC lead in wins, Thornton tied for the most innings pitched in conference play (60 1/3 innings) and finished in the top 10 in ERA (ninth, 4.33) and strikeouts (fifth, 55). Thornton is a two-time WAC Pitcher of the Week and opened conference action with 13 strikeouts in a scoreless seven-inning outing against New Mexico State.
Thornton is one of two WAC members to be selected as a semifinalist, alongside Sam Houston first baseman Tyler Davis.
The Lopes continue their quest for a third consecutive NCAA tournament bids with this week's WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, where they will open with a 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The 60 Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists:
- Kemp Aldersman, OF, Ole Miss
- Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
- Bryce Arnold, SS, Campbell
- Jarrod Belbin, 2B, Campbell
- Derek Bender, DH, Coastal Carolina
- Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
- Ryan Campos, C, Arizona State
- Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
- Jonah Cox, OF, Oral Roberts
- Jacob Cozart, C, NC State
- Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
- Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
- Tyler Davis, 1B, Sam Houston State
- Austin Deming, 3B, BYU
- Kevin Dubrule, SS, Army-West Point
- Eddie Felix, 2B, FGCU
- Hunter Fitz-Gerald, 1B, Old Dominion
- Ryan Galanie, 1B, Wofford
- Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
- Lucas Gordon, SP, Texas
- Grant Jay, C, DBU
- Tanner Hall, SP, Southern Miss
- Calvin Harris, C, Ole Miss
- Josh Hartle, SP, Wake Forest
- Ty Hill, SS, Jackson State
- Hunter Hines, DH, Mississippi State
- Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech
- Jeremiah Jenkins, 1B, Maine
- Justin Johnson, 2B, Wake Forest
- Ryan Johnson, SP, DBU
- Gavin Kash, 1B, Texas Tech
- Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
- Seth Keener, RP, Wake Forest
- Joe Kinker, DH, FGCU
- Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
- Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
- Shane Lewis, OF, Troy
- Carson Liggett, SP, Louisville
- Nick Lorruso, 3B, Maryland
- Rhett Lowder, SP, Wake Forest
- Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
- Omar Melendez, SP, Alabama State
- Cole Messina, C, South Carolina
- Braden Montgomery, OF, Stanford
- Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
- Ethan Petry, OF, South Carolina
- Alberto Rios, OF, Stanford
- Roc Riggio, 2B, Oklahoma State
- Kiko Romero, 1B, Arizona
- Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
- Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
- Paul Skenes, SP, LSU
- Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
- Zach Thornton, SP, Grand Canyon
- Payton Tolle, Utility, Wichita State
- Brock Vradenburg, 1B, Michigan State
- Bryson Ware, 3B, Auburn
- JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
- Tommy White, 3B, LSU
- Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
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