LUBBOCK, Texas – Senior shortstop Clayton Smithson has been recognized as one of the nation’s top shortstop as the College Baseball Hall of Fame named him to the Brooks Wallace Award Shortstop of the Year Award, Thursday.
Smithson, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, is one of the 54 players recognized on the award’s first watch list this season – and one of 35 junior or seniors on the list. The award, sponsored by Mizuno, honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented as part of the annual Night of Champions celebration, July 2, in Lubbock.
Smithson is batting .285 this season as he battles through an April swoon. However, the Govs No. 9 hitter has 20 extra-base hits out of 35 hits this season – a .553 slugging percentage. While his offensive numbers have taken a hit during April, he has joined second baseman Garrett Copeland in a double play-turning barrage, the duo combining for 13 of APSU’s 15 double plays in just 12 games this month.
It is the second award watch list an Austin Peay player has been named to this week – the midpoint of the 2016 season. Junior Alex Robles was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List, Wednesday.