Suzuki Takes Home Johnny Bench Award June 30, 2004 -- Wichita, Kansas
Kurt Suzuki capped a memorable season by winning the Johnny Bench Award
Wednesday night. The award is presented annually at the Greater Wichita
Sports Banquet to the nation's top collegiate catcher, as voted on by
a panel of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and scouts.
Suzuki was selected over two other finalists, South Carolina's Landon
Powell and North Carolina's Chris Ianetta.
"It's just an amazing feeling," said Suzuki. "It's like
getting the national Player of the Year award. It's so satisfying to meet
Johnny Bench and to be with the two players that were up for the award
with me. It's definitely a great way to end a great season and something
I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Suzuki, nearly a unanimous first-team All-American, had a storybook season
for the Titans and drove in the winning run last Sunday as Fullerton beat
Texas, 3-2, to capture its fourth national championship and first since
1995.
The junior from Maui batted .413 with 16 homers and 87 RBI and came one
home run shy of the Big West Conference triple crown. He was named the
Big West Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-American by
every publication except Sports Weekly, which tabbed him a second-team
All-American. Suzuki put his defense on display at the College World Series,
setting a CWS record for most chances handled in a career without an error.
Suzuki was selected by Oakland in the second round of the Major League
Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
