May 23, 2004
HOUSTON, TX-Old Dominion University junior righthanderJustin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) is on the list of 10 hurlers who were namedsemi-finalists for the inaugural Roger Clemens Award (College Baseball's Pitcher of the Year), as selected by the nation's Division I head coaches and selected national media.
Verlander is joined by Jered Weaver(Long Beach State), Phillip Humber(Rice), Wade Townsend (Rice), J.P.Howell and Huston Street (Texas), Matt Fox(Central Florida), Justin Hoyman (Florida), Nate Moore (Troy State), MikePelfrey (Wichita State).
Verlander currently is 7-5 with a 3.19 earned run average. He has alreadyset an ODU and CAA mark with 145 strikeouts in just 98 innings thus far thisseason and has 421 career strikeouts in just 328 innings. Verlander fanned 17this season in a game at James Madison, tying his career high as a freshman againstthe Dukes. He has already been named CAA Pitcher of the Week three times thisYear and National Player of the Week once. He ranks third in the nation in strikeouts.
Voting to determine the three finalists will be announced on June 9.The winner of the first Roger Clemens Award will be announced at theConclusion of the Roger Clemens Award Dinner, which will be held on July15 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston.
THE ROGER CLEMENS FINALISTSJered Weaver (Long Beach)14-01.27 ERA171 strikeouts in 113 IP.J.P. Howell (Texas)11-21.79 ERAHuston Street (Texas)4-11.53 ERA9 savesPhillip Humber(Rice)11-21.66 ERA121 strikeoutsWade Townsend (Rice) 10-01.55 ERAMatt Fox (Central Florida)11-22.02 ERAJustin Hoyman (Florida) 10-12.62 ERANate Moore (Troy State) 7-31.15 ERAMike Pelphrey (Wichita St.)10-12.00 ERAJustin Verlander (ODU) 7-53.19 ERA145 strikeouts in 98 IP