HPU Baseball’s Josh Spano Named To The Johnny Bench Award Watch List

WICHITA, Kan. – Junior catcher Josh Spano of the High Point University baseball team has been named to the 2014 Johnny Bench Award Watch List by the Wichita Area Sports Commission. The award is given annually to the top Division I catcher.

“We are excited that Josh Spano has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch list for a second year in a row,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “He continues to grow in his leadership role within this team and his defense behind the plate has been invaluable thus far this season.”

This is the second time that Spano has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. The junior has started all 16 games this season and is hitting .233 with seven RBI, seven runs scored and a team-best 10 walks. Spano has played very well behind the plate, throwing out eight base runners with just one passed ball. Last season, Spano started 55 games and hit .316 with 31 RBI and 35 runs scored. He also threw out 20 potential base stealers.

Spano is one of three Big South catchers on this season’s Johnny Bench watch list along with Josh Reavis of Radford and Matt Winn of VMI.

Spano is the third catcher from HPU to be named to the watch list. Billy Alvino was named to the watch list from 2007-09 and was a semifinalist 2009. Kyle Mahoney was named to the watch list in 2010 and 2011.

The watch list of 72 will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on May 15, 2014.