June 19, 2001

WICHITA, Kan. - Baylor catcher Kelly Shoppach was presented with the second annual Johnny Bench Award Tuesday night at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet.

Johnny Bench was on hand to present the award, given to the nation's top collegiate catcher. Arizona State's Casey Myers and Jeremy Brown of Alabama were the other finalists.

Upon being named the 2001 Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year, Shoppach said, "Wow. I am completely humbled and speechless. I was honored to be named a finalist with Casey and Jeremy, to receive the award is truly a humbling experience."

Shoppach, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, led the team in hitting all season and finished the year with a .397 average. Behind the plate, the Big 12 Player of the Year recorded a .998 fielding percentage and committed just one error in 406 chances.

Chosen by the Boston Red Sox with the 48th pick in the second round of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, Shoppach has already been named to the all-America teams released by Baseball Weekly, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.