May 1, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sophomore Trevor Gott and junior Luke Maile were selected to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List, given annually to the top amateur baseball player in country, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The UK duo have been tabbed to the most prestigious award in college baseball, the USA Baseball Golden Spikes 60-man, midseason watch list. USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award since 1978. UK's two members of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List marks the first for the Wildcats since Sawyer Carroll and Collin Cowgill in 2008 and Ryan Strieby in 2006 to appear on the listing.
As a vocal leader for the Wildcats behind the plate and in the infield, Maile has led Kentucky to a historic season, including helping Kentucky soar to the first No. 1 ranking in program history. Maile has hit .329 (55-167) and drilled a team-high 11 home runs, a tie for second in the Southeastern Conference. His team-high 43 RBI and .587 slugging percentage have helped power the SEC's most prolific offense. A native of Crestview Hills, Ky., and the 2008 Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball, Maile owns a .296 career average in 122 games, with 20 doubles, 23 homers, 85 RBI and 17 steals.
A native of Lexington, Ky., and a product of Tates Creek High School, Gott has been shutdown reliever in the UK bullpen, boasting a 1-0 record with a 3.07 ERA. A member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List, given to the nation's top reliever, Gott has saved eight games in nine chances, including eight consecutive. He has tossed 14.2 innings in 17 appearances, allowing only nine hits and five walks, striking out 22. He worked his first 6.1 innings in SEC without allowing a hit and only one walk, notching five saves. Gott is currently tied for the most single-season saves in UK baseball history, needing one to set a new program record.
Former recipients of the Golden Spikes Award feature current Major League Baseball players such as No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, Stephen Strasburg, 2010 National League Rookie of the year and 2010 World Series Champion Buster Posey, No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft David Price, two time National League Cy Young Award Winner Tim Lincecum and two-time MLB All-Star Jered Weaver.
The SEC leads all conferences with 16 players on the midseason watch list. Florida boasts the most players on the list with four on the midseason update.
The midseason watch list will be cut in half Tuesday, May 29th when USA Baseball officials announce the 30 semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award. The 30 semifinalists will be voted on by a group of more than 200 knowledgeable votes including coaches, respected media members, select professional baseball personnel and current USA Baseball staff.
Fan voting will be incorporate in the selection of the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, with voting opening on Tuesday, May 29th. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalist on GoldenSpikesAward.com. Voting for the three finalists will close on Friday, June 1st at 5 p.m. ET.
USA Baseball will announce three finalists on Tuesday, June 5th before revealing the 2012 Golden Spikes Award on Friday, July 6th on MLB Network, simulcast live on MLB.com. A live stream will also be available on GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com. Voting for the award winner will close on Friday, Jun 15th at 5 p.m. ET.
Kentucky (36-9, 14-7 SEC) will look to remain atop in the league standings for the eighth consecutive week on Thursday, starting a three-game series with consensus preseason No. 1 Florida. First pitch on Thursday is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
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