Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography John Turk was named to the 2010 Johnny Bench Award watch list

AKRON, Ohio - UA senior John Turk was one of 53 catchers in the nation named to the 2010 Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award watch list as announced earlier by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.

The Johnny Bench Award is bestowed annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher as voted on by Division I coaches. Johnny Bench, for whom the award is named after, is a Hall of Fame catcher and was a 17-year veteran with the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Turk started 45 games for the Zips last year and batted a .275 clip. The senior managed 52 hits on the year, including seven doubles and two home runs en route to a .344 slugging percentage. Turk also boasted an impressive .991 fielding percentage in 2009 with just three errors in 33 attempts behind the plate.  

The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semifinalists, whom will be announced May 19, 2010. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 2, 2010 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1, 2010.

For more information on the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award which will be presented by Papa John's Pizza this year, please visit WichitaSports.com.