The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the College Baseball Foundation, today selected UC Irvine senior Daniel Bibona (Lake Forest, Calif./Santa Margarita HS) as one of 25 semifinalists for the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball.

Bibona, the left-handed ace on the Anteater pitching staff, is one of five starting pitchers on the 25-man list. 

He leads the Big West in ERA (2.10), opponent batting average (.208) and strikeouts (100).  His nine wins is tied for the league lead and tied for 14th in the country.  Bibona also ranks nationally in ERA (16th) and hits allowed per nine innings (17th).

A 2009 All-American by several publications, Bibona recently became UCI's all-time strikeouts leader and has 330 for his career total.  He is also 31-7, with the 31 victories placing him within the Big West career top 10.

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 for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on two rounds of national voting.  Three 2010 finalists will be announced just prior to the first game of the College World Series with a press conference slated for Saturday, June 10, at 10 a.m. (CDT) at Rosenblatt Stadium.  The winner will be named in a national broadcast from Lubbock, Texas, on Friday, July 2.

2010 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Name, Pos., School
Daniel Bibona, P, UC Irvine
Zach Cox, 3B, Arkansas
C.J. Cron, DH, Utah
Wes Cunningham, 1B, Murray State
Alex Dickerson, OF, Indiana
Mac Doyle, C, Wofford
Chris Duffy, OF, UCF
Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami (FL)
Cole Green, P, Texas
Ben Heath, C, Penn State
Danny Hultzen, P, Virginia
Paul Hoilman, 1B, East Tennessee State
A.J. Kirby-Jones, DH, Tennessee Tech
Drew Lee, SS, Morehead State
Joe Leonard, 3B, Pittsburgh
Zack MacPhee, 2B, Arizona State
Mike McGee, UT, Florida State
Anthony Meo, P, Coastal Carolina
Hunter Morris, 1B, Auburn
Drew Pomeranz, P, Mississippi
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
Jordan Ribera, 1B, Fresno State
Chance Ruffin, RP, Texas
Rob Segedin, 3B, Tulane
Alex Wimmers, P, Ohio State