May 27, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. - Ohio junior Marc Krauss has been named a semifinalist for the 2009 Golden Spikes Award, presented annually by USA baseball to the top amateur baseball player in the nation. One of 30 semifinalists, Krauss is the lone player on the list from the Mid-American Conference and one of just 11 players from non-BCS conferences.

The Deshler, Ohio, native became the first Bobcat to ever garner the MAC Player of the Year award when he earned the honor May 19 and was placed on the All-MAC First Team for the third-straight year. Krauss was also tabbed CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-District and was a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week April 6.

Krauss, who started all 53 games this season, shattered Ohio’s single-season home runs record in 2009 with 27 (the record was 20), which ranks third nationally and second in MAC single-season history, while leading the league with 70 RBIs, which ties for first on Ohio’s single-season chart. His 178 total bases (fifth nationally) this season are a school record, as is his .852 slugging percentage (fourth nationally), both of which also ranked first in the MAC. The broadcast journalism major batted .402 on the year with 84 hits, including 13 doubles. Krauss scored 73 runs, while drawing 46 walks to help his .521 on-base percentage, all of which rank second in the conference and in the top-26 nationally.

The five Golden Spikes Award finalists will be announced June 2, while the winner will be announced July 15 in St. Louis as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities. The 2008 Golden Spikes winner was Florida State’s Buster Posey and past award winners include current MLB players J.D. Drew, Pat Burrell, Khalil Greene, Rickie Weeks, Tim Lincecum and David Price. The Golden Spikes Award will be presented for the 32nd consecutive year to the nation’s premier amateur player. For more information on the award, the semifinalists and to vote, visit goldenspikesaward.com.

2009 Golden Spikes Semifinalists
Dustin Ackley, Jr., 1B/OF, North Carolina
Eric Arnett, Jr., RHP, Indiana
Buddy Baumann, Jr., LHP, Missouri State
Kyle Bellamy, Jr., RHP, Miami
Daniel Bibona, Jr., LHP, UC-Irvine
Bryce Brentz, So., OF/RHP, Middle Tennessee
Louis Coleman, Sr., RHP, LSU
Chris Dominguez, Jr., 3B, Louisville
Josh Fellhauer, Jr., OF, Cal State-Fullerton
Kyle Gibson, Jr., RHP, Missouri
Jason Kipnis, Jr., OF, Arizona State
Marc Krauss, Jr., INF/OF, Ohio
Mike Leake, Jr., RHP, Arizona State
Justin Marks, Jr., LHP, Louisville
Bryan Marquez, Sr., 2B, New Mexico State
Kent Matthes, Sr., OF, Alabama
Deck McGuire, So., RHP, Georgia Tech
Tommy Mendonca, Jr., 3B, Fresno State
A.J. Morris, Jr., RHP, Kansas State
Josh Phegley, Jr., C, Indiana
Rich Poythress, Jr., 1B, Georgia
Brooks Raley, So., LHP/OF, Texas A&M
Addison Reed, So., RHP, San Diego State
Anthony Rendon, Fr., 3B, Rice
Tony Sanchez, Jr., C, Boston College
Angelo Songco, Jr., OF, Loyola Marymount
Stephen Strasburg, Jr., RHP, San Diego State
Alex White, Jr., RHP, North Carolina
Alex Wimmers, So., RHP, Ohio State
J.T. Wise, Sr., C/INF, Oklahoma