DENVER, Colo. - University of Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon earned another honor Friday afternoon, as he was chosen as one of 30 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, working in Association with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, released the list of semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball.

Gordon, a sophomore third baseman from Lincoln, is in the midst of one of the finest seasons in school history, ranking second in the Big 12 in all three triple crown categories with a .386 average, 16 homers and 67 RBIs. He paces the Big 12 in on-base (.511) and slugging percentage (.807), total bases (142) and walks (39), while ranking second in the league in runs scored (55), doubles (18) and triples (4).

Gordon, a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and Team USA inviteee, has 21 multi--hit games and 17 multi-RBI games, driving in four or more runs seven times. Gordon has helped No. 23 Nebraska to a 33-16 record heading into a weekend series with Baylor.

Gordon is one of five Big 12 players on the semifinal list, joining Texas pitcher J.P.Howell, Texas A&M pitcher Jason Meyer, Oklahoma State pitcher Spencer Grogan and Texas Tech first baseman Josh Brady.

The membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy based on three rounds of voting. The 2004 winner will be announced at the College World Series in Omaha on Friday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m. CDT.

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 winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser permanently displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the 1999 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.

The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami, 1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas, 1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990; Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick, Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton, Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999; Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, P, USC, 2001, Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; and Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern U., 2003.

For more information, please visit: www.DickHowserTrophy.com

Pos. Player, School
SS Dustin Pedroia, Arizona State
RP Steven Register, Auburn
UT/ATH Connor Robertson, Birmingham-Southern
3B Brad McCann, Clemson
UT/ATH Ryan Jones, East Carolina
2B Trevor Lawhorn, East Carolina
P Justin Hoyman, Florida
OF Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Florida State
P Jered Weaver, Long Beach State
OF Jon Zeringue, LSU
1B Billy Becher, New Mexico State
3B Alex Gordon, Nebraska
C Chris Iannetta, North Carolina
P Spencer Grogan, Oklahoma State
1B-P Stephen Head, Ole Miss
UT/ATH P.J. Hiser, Pittsburgh
P Philip Humber, Rice
P Wade Townsend, Rice
OF Jeff Frazier, Rutgers
C Landon Powell, South Carolina
OF Ryan Frith, Southern Miss
2B Jarrett Hoffpauir, Southern Miss
2B Jed Lowrie, Stanford
SP J.P. Howell, Texas
SP Jason Meyer, Texas A&M
1B Josh Brady, Texas Tech
P Matt Fox, UCF
2B Warner Jones, Vanderbilt
UT/ATH Joe Koshansky, Virginia
OF Chris Rahl, William & Mary