University of Oklahoma Athletics

Purcey Named To Rotary Smith Award Watch List

February 13, 2003 | Baseball

By: Athletics Communications

Feb. 13, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma sophomore pitcher David Purcey was named to the Rotary Smith Award's preliminary watch list as released by the award committee on Wednesday. One of 130 Division I college baseball players to be selected to the initial list, Purcey is in contention for the prestigious award which is celebrating its 16th year of honoring the nation's finest collegiate baseball player. Voting to determine the 12 semifinalists begins in May before the finalist list is announced prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional action at the beginning of June.

"David has the potential to be one of the top college players in the nation this year and is very deserving of this recognition. He is an outstanding pitcher with a very high ceiling that can help this club go a long way this year," commented OU head coach Larry Cochell.

The Smith Award nomination is the latest preseason accolade the young lefthander has garnered following a standout freshman campaign and a promising outing in the Alaska League last summer. Baseball America named him a preseason second team All-American pick as well as a favorite to capture All-Big 12 Conference honors in its recent college preview issue. The publication also tabbed the lefthander as the league's top prospect entering the 2003 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft as well as posessing the Big 12's best fastball.

The award is one of several national projects conducted by the the Rotary Club of Houston, which also sponsors the Rotary Lombardi Award honoring college football's top lineman. The projects help raise money for Rotary charities, the Texas Children's Hospital and the Karl Youg League.

Purcey will make his first start of the year this weekend as the Sooners open the season at home against the University of Texas at San Antonio. The three-game set at L. Dale Mitchell Park begins at 3 p.m. on Friday followed by a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday and a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.

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