April 10, 2001

A trio of BIG EAST Conference catchers was named to the watch list for the 2001 Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. Virginia Tech senior Kevin Bice, Boston College junior Jeff Mackor and Notre Dame sophomore Paul O'Toole were honored.

Bice, who is batting .302 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in this season, has started 25 of the Hokies' 28 contests this season. He has committed just two errors and sports a .980 fielding percentage. Bice earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors on March 19.

Mackor, who owns a .258 average with 12 RBI this season, has committed just one error and has posted a .994 fielding percentage this season. The junior has also thrown out 16 base runners and has caught all but one of BC's games.

O'Toole is batting .267 with two homers and 17 RBI in 2001. He owns a .976 fielding percentage and has thrown out six runners this season. He has caught 24 of No. 6 Notre Dame's 28 games.

The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists by May 15, 2001. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semifinalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced in June at the College World Series. A final vote among the national committee will occur at the end of the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 4th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet.

Johnny Bench presented Louisiana State University's Brad Cresse with the inaugural award last June. Casey Meyers of Arizona State and Justin Cowan of Nebraska were the other finalists for this prestigious award.