University of Houston Athletics
Sullivan Named Semifinalist for Smith Award
5/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 15, 2003
HOUSTON - After a record-setting season, University of Houston pitcher Brad Sullivan was named as one of 12 semifinalists for the 2003 Rotary Smith Award, given annually to the NCAA Division I college baseball player of the year.
The junior righthander leads the Cougar pitching staff with 140 strikeouts this season and has added a 6-5 record and 2.15 ERA in 104.2 innings of work this season. He became the Cougars' career strikeout leader at Memphis on May 9 and has already set the UH single-game and single-season records for strikeouts.
A native of Nederland, Texas, Sullivan has been named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week three times in 2003 and was honored as a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball magazine after tying his own school record with 16 strikeouts against C-USA rival Saint Louis on April 18.
The defending C-USA Pitcher of the Year and a 2002 consensus All-American, Sullivan needs only five more strikeouts to become the first player in UH history and only the second in league history to reach the 400-strikeout mark. In addition, he is only 15 strikeouts away from become the C-USA career leader.
Of the Top Seven career C-USA strikeout leaders, Sullivan is the only pitcher that has played less than four full seasons.
Recently, Sullivan has taken his outstanding play to the field as well, appearing at second base and first base in the last two weeks. During his offensive days, he has batted .556 with six runs, a stolen base and three doubles for a .889 slugging percentage.
Tulane first baseman Michael Aubrey also was named as a semifinalist for the award.
Now in its 16th year, the Rotary Smith Award honors college baseball's player of the year as voted upon by college baseball publicists, former winners and the coaches of those former winners. This year's award will be presented June 26 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Houston. A total of 16 finalists of the award appeared on opening day rosters in Major League Baseball in 2003.
The Award pays tribute to Houston's original baseball ambassador, R.E. "Bob" Smith and his wife Vivian. It rewards the winner's character and leadership as well as his talent on the field of play. The Award benefits the Rotary Charities, Texas Children's Hospital and the Karl Young League.
2003 Rotary Smith Award Semifinalists
John Anderson, Eastern Kentucky; Michael Aubrey, Tulane; Bill Becher, New Mexico State; Jamie D'Antona, Wake Forest; Scott Lewis, Ohio State; Jeff Niemann, Rice; Carlos Quentin, Stanford; Kyle Sleeth, Wake Forest; Tim Stauffer, Richmond; Brad Sullivan, Houston; Wade Townsend, Rice; Rickie Weeks, Southern.
