Wednesday, February 16, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 16, 2005) - East Tennessee State senior All-American catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) was named to the 2005 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List announced Tuesday by the College Baseball Foundation in Lubbock, Tex. The Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton won the award last season.

            The Wallace Watch will be trimmed to 12 semi-finalists by Tuesday, May 24, 2005. Then the selection committee will narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals at a press conference in Omaha, Neb. on Thursday, June 16, 2005. The finalists, their head coaches, and their parents will be invited to Lubbock, TX, for a golf tournament, a welcome dinner and the award banquet.

Dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach, Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A 4-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District Six his senior year when he lead the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament. 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. The Plano, Texas, native was married to the former Sandy Arnold and they had one daughter, Lindsay Ryan.

The selection committee for the Wallace Award is comprised of a national panel of preeminent coaches, sports information directors, former winners and beat media who most closely follow the sport. Screening Committee members will evaluate the candidates and will continue their review throughout the entire baseball season. Additional Wallace Watch candidates may be added as the season progresses. Voting for the three finalists and the Wallace Award winner will be conducted by confidential balloting, with totals tabulated by the J.W.Anderson & Associates accounting firm in Lubbock, TX.

Moore will be looking to repeat on one of the best seasons in Southern Conference history, as he led the nation with a .455 batting average and .60 doubles per game in 2004. Moore also led the SoCon in slugging percentatge (.752) and was second in on-base percentage (.509), third in total bases (152) and fourth in hits (92). In addition, Moore hit nine home runs with 45 RBIs and 59 runs scored. He also served as the Buccaneer closer last season, going 2-0 with six saves.

            Following the season, Moore was named SoCon Player of the Year by the league's coaches and media and was a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American. Caleb has been named as a first-team preseason Louisville Slugger All-American for the 2005 season.

            East Tennessee State opens its season on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. as the Bucs host Niagara in the opener of a three-game series from Cardinal Park. Saturday's game will be at noon while Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.