BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— Samford junior pitcher and designated hitter C.K. Irby was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced on Friday. The Dick Howser Trophy goes to the top player in collegiate baseball.
 
As a hitter, Irby leads Samford and ranks second in the Southern Conference with a .386 batting average.  He also ranks second in the SoCon in hits (83), third in triples (4), fourth in runs batted in (56), fourth in total bases (130), fourth in on-base percentage (.454) and sixth in slugging percentage (.605).
 
On the mound, Irby leads Samford and ranks fourth in the SoCon in wins with seven. He is tied for the league lead in complete games (2), and he ranks second in the SoCon in shutouts (1) and fifth in strikeouts (86).
 
The Dick Howser Trophy winner is based on two rounds of national voting. This is the 27^th year of the Dick Howser Trophy presented by Easton Foundations. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 6. The 2013 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the third year. The winner will be unveiled on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. CT, the opening day of the 2013 CWS.
 
The candidates hail from 17 different conferences and 31 different schools. The Southeastern Conference leads the way with 10 semifinalists, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with six, Pac-12 with five and the Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Colonial Athletic Association and Southern with two. Every position on the diamond is represented, including seven starting pitchers, five first basemen, five shortstops, four catchers, four third basemen, four outfielders, four relief pitchers, three second basemen, two designated hitters and two utility players, among this diversified group.
 
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
 
2013 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Pos. Name, School
Mark Appel, SP, Stanford
Aaron Attaway, SS, Western Carolina
Nick Backlund, DH, Mercer
Michael Bass, 2B, UNC Wilmington
Tyler Beede, SP, Vanderbilt
Aaron Berg, RP, UCLA
Alex Bregman, SS, LSU
Kris Bryant, 3B, San Diego
Danny Collins, OF, Troy
L.B. Dantzler, 1B, South Carolina
Brandon Dixon, 3B, Arizona
Hunter Dozier, SS, Stephen F. Austin
Kent Emmanuel, SP, North Carolina
Zane Evans, C, Georgia Tech
Brent Graham, SS, Campbell
Jonathan Gray, SP, Oklahoma
C.K. Irby, Utility, Samford
Mason Katz, 1B, LSU
Ryan Kellogg, SP, Arizona State
Tony Kemp, 2B, Vanderbilt
Michael Lorenzen, Utility, Cal State Fullerton
L.J. Mazzilli, 2B, Connecticut
Kyle McGowin, SP, Savannah State
Brian Miller, RP, Vanderbilt
Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina
Aaron Nola, SP, LSU
Matt Oberste, DH, Oklahoma
Daniel Palka, OF, Georgia Tech
Justin Parr, OF, Illinois
D.J. Peterson, 1B, New Mexico
Hunter Renfro, OF, Mississippi State
Tanner Rust, C, New Mexico State
Jimmie Scherfy, RP, Oregon
Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana
Cody Stubbs, 1B, North Carolina
Stewart Turner, C, Ole Miss
Trea Turner, SS, NC State
Tyler Webb, RP, South Carolina
Jimmy Yezzo, 1B, Delaware
Ty Young, 3B, Louisville