Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Jason Buursma Named to Dick Howser Trophy Watch List
4/24/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior co-captain Jason Buursma (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside School) has been named one of 50 candidates for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced on Thursday. The Dick Howser Trophy, which is presented in memory of the former Florida State 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. The criteria for consideration include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage.
This recognition is the latest in a long list of honors the Bison two-way player has garnered as he was recently selected as one of 10 national finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Through three-plus seasons with the Orange and Blue, Buursma has become one of the most decorated players in program history, earning four All-Patriot League selections and a spot on the ABCA All-East Region First Team as a relief pitcher in 2006. A two-time member of the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award watch list, Buursma holds the school's career saves record with 15 and finished 2007 with the second lowest ERA in Patriot League history, 1.65. Buursma matched the Bucknell career home runs record when he hit his 21st in a 5-4 win over Navy last week and is on pace to finish his time with the Bison ranking in the top-10 career leaders for virtually every major hitting and pitching category, while ranking top-10 in Patriot League history for career saves, ERA and home runs.
As a senior, Buursma is enjoying his most successful campaign yet. Through 29 games in the field, he is leading the Patriot League in batting average (.402), home runs (10), slugging percentage (.718) and has contributed 27 runs scored and 31 RBI. On the mound as the ace of Bucknell's staff, he leads the league with a 5-2 record along with 62 strikeouts in 61.1innings of work, averaging 9.10 per nine innings. Buursma boasts a 3.38 ERA and has walked just eight batters, holding opponents to a .259 average. He was named the Patriot League's Pitcher of the Week back on Mar. 17, marking the fifth overall weekly accolade of his career.
Buursma was taken in 43rd Round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners, but chose to return to Bucknell and complete his college career. The 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team honoree carries a 3.64 grade-point average as an economics major with a philosophy minor and has been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice and to the Dean's List in six of seven semesters. During the fall of his junior year, Buursma spent the semester studying abroad at Oxford.
The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2008 winner will be announced at the College World Series on June 14.
