Durham, NC -- USA Baseball announced Tuesday that Monmouth University pitcher Pat Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) was added to its 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, the award given to the top amateur baseball player in the country.
"It truly is an honor to be added to such a prestigious list and to be included with so many great players," stated Light. "I have been blessed with a successful season thus far and I look forward to contributing to one of our team goals of returning to the Northeast Conference Tournament."
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first ever presentation of the award to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2011 Golden Spikes Award winner was Trevor Bauer of UCLA. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Stephen Strasburg ('09), Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07), Tim Lincecum ('06), Alex Gordon ('05), Jered Weaver ('04), Rickie Weeks ('03), and Mark Kotsay ('95). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Pat Burrell ('98), Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79), and Horner ('78).
"It is a tremendous honor for Pat to be added to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List," said head coach Dean Ehehalt. "Year in and year out, the Golden Spikes Award recognizes a very prestigious group of players and Pat is very worthy of the honor."
In 11 starts for the Blue and White this season, Light has a 7-3 record with a 2.69 ERA. The junior, who has held opponents to a combined .227 batting average, has three complete games to his credit, including taking a perfect game into the eighth inning against Wagner College at the end of March. In 80.1 innings, Light has allowed 24 earned runs on 67 hits, while striking out 81 batters compared to walking just 11. The three-time Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Week recipient has succeeded in league action, compiling a 5-1 record in six starts with a 1.47 ERA. Light has four double-digit strikeout outings, including tying a program-best 15 punch-outs, without allowing a walk, last weekend against LIU Brooklyn, which earned him Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger's National Player of the Week distinction. In total, the righty has 62 league strikeouts with only four walks.
USA Baseball officials will announce the 30 semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award on Tuesday, May 29. The list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel and current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2012. Tuesday, May 29, marks the day when amateur baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalist on GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of 30 names. On Tuesday, June 5, USA Baseball will announce the three finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day. The Golden Spikes Award trophy will be awarded live at MLB Network's studios for the second year in a row, with a presentation scheduled for Friday, July 6. Through USA Baseball's partnership with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), the presentation will also be simulcast with a live stream available from GoldenSpikesAward.com, MLB.com and USABaseball.com.