Turley Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist
5/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. - Baylor junior left-handed pitcher Josh Turley is among 30 semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, USA Baseball announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the nation's top amateur baseball player.
Fans can view highlights of all 30 semifinalists and vote on www.GoldenSpikesAward.com. Three finalists for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball will be announced June 5. The finalists will be at MLB Network's studios for the presentation on The Rundown, which will feature interviews, video highlights and the announcement of the winner.
Turley, a junior from Texarkana, Texas, has been the Bears' No. 1 starter all season and has led Baylor to wins in 13 of his 14 starts. He ranks third in the Big 12 Conference with a 9-0 record and ninth nationally with a 1.64 ERA. Turley's nine wins are the third-most nationally among undefeated pitchers.
A first-team All-Big 12 honoree, Turley has allowed one earned run or fewer in 10 of his 14 starts this season and pitched at least 5.2 innings in 22 of his last 24 starts dating back to last season. In his last seven starts, Turley has gone 6-0 with a 1.03 ERA over 52.2 innings, and his lone no-decision in that stretch came after 7.0 shutout innings at Oklahoma on May 12.
The Big 12 Conference has five candidates among the 30 semifinalists. Joining Turley are Oklahoma State's Andrew Heaney and Texas A&M's Tyler Naquin, Michael Wacha and Ross Stripling.
Former Baylor All-American Jason Jennings became the Big 12's first Golden Spikes Award winner when he was honored in 1999.
Baylor (44-14) won the 2012 Big 12 Championship and has been tabbed as the No. 4 national seed in the 2012 NCAA Baseball Championship. The Bears open tournament play by hosting the Waco Regional, which starts Friday at Baylor Ballpark. For more information, visit www.baylorbears.com/wacoregional.
