UCI’s Gorgen recognized among USA’s baseball elite

UC Irvine junior pitcher Scott Gorgen, a third-team All-American last season, is among 75 of the nation’s top collegiate players named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.

Gorgen is the only player from the Big West Conference to appear on the initial list. The right-hander was 13-3 with a 2.83 earned-run average last season, when he had 117 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings and limited opponents to a .235 batting average.

Gorgen also pitched six complete games including postseason wins over Texas and Wichita State.

Gorgen also emerged as the winning pitcher in UCI’s extra-inning win over Arizona State at the College World Series. He earned All-America honors from Baseball America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. at the end of 2007 and received preseason All-America recognition earlier this year from Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA.

The Golden Spikes Award, which recognizes the top player in college baseball, will have its watch list reduced to 50 names on May 20 by USA Baseball officials. The final list of 50 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball national team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff — close to 150 voters.

For the first time, fan voting will also be part of the process. May 20 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the award on www.usabaseball.com. As part of this May selection process, all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 50 names.

On June 3, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will again commence that same day.

The Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 16 via live telecast from New York

— From staff reports