FORMER CATS CATCHER NOLAN NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH AWARD WATCH LIST
Former Border Cats catcher Nate Nolan (St. Mary’s College) was recently named to the 2016 Johnny Bench Award watch list. The Johnny Bench Award is given to the top NCAA Division 1 catcher, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. Nolan is one of the 73 Division 1 catchers currently on the watch list, which will be narrowed down to the semifinalists announced on May 18th. Ballots will then be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May to determine the three finalists. Finalists will be announced June 6th, after which they all will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced during the 19th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30th.
In the 2015 season with the Cats, Nolan averaged .224 in 170 at bats notching six home runs and 31 RBI’s. Nolan also joined three other Border Cats at the 2015 All-Star Game in Wisconsin Rapids during his season with Thunder Bay.
Nolan is currently attending St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA and has started all 16 of the games for the Gales thus far, achieving 3 home runs and 12 RBI’s. Defensively, he carries a .988 fielding percentage with only one error in 86 opportunities.
Nate was also named one of D1Baseball.com’s Top 300 Prospects to Watch for the upcoming 2016 MLB Draft, joining only 24 other catchers on the list.