Klocke named semifinalist for top catcher award

Southeast Missouri State senior All-American catcher Jim Klocke has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 2010 Johnny Bench Award that goes to the nation's top catcher.

Other semifinalists are Jeff Arnold (Louisville), Jett Bandy (Arizona), Chris Berset (Michigan), Robert Brantly (UC Riverside), Dan Burkhart (Ohio State), Micah Gibbs (LSU), Andrew Giobbi (Vanderbilt), Yasmani Grandal (Miami), Ben Heath (Penn State), Bryan Holaday (TCU), Jose Iglesias (Coastal Carolina), Ryan Lipkin (San Francisco), Matt Rice (Western Kentucky), Cameron Rupp (Texas) and Derek Trent (East Tennessee State).

Statistics now will be compiled on each of the semifinalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 2 before the NCAA regionals and Major League Baseball Draft.

A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series, with the winner announced July 1.