UC Riverside sophomore catcher Robert Brantly (Temecula Valley, Calif./Chaparral HS) is one of 16 semifinalists for the 2010 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, announced the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Wednesday.

The Johnny Bench Award, named after the former Cincinnati Reds player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989, recognizes the nation's top collegiate catcher.

Brantly is hitting .353 with six home runs and 34 RBI for the Highlanders this season.  He has a team-leading 61 hits and 20 walks while recording a .992 fielding percentage, having committed just two errors behind the dish.  Brantly also has thrown out 37.8 percent of would-be base stealers.

The list of Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award semifinalists are as follows:

Jeff Arnold, Louisville
Jeff Bandy, Arizona
Chris Berst, Michigan
Robert Brantly, UC Riverside
Dan Burkhart, Ohio State
Micah Gibbs, LSU
Andrew Giobbi, Vanderbilt
Yasmani Grandal, Miami
Ben Heath, Penn State
Bryan Holaday, TCU
Jose Iglesias, Coastal Carolina
Jim Klocke, Southeast Missouri State
Ryan Lipkin, San Francisco
Matt Rice, Western Kentucky
Cameron Rupp, Texas
Derek Trent, East Tennessee State

Statistics will now be compiled on each of the semifinalists and sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists.  The finalists will be announced June 2, 2010 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft.

A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series.  All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1, 2010.