Cozart, Satterwhite Named To Wallace Award Watch List

OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss junior shortstop Zack Cozart and sophomore right-handed pitcher Cody Satterwhite have been named to the  watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award the College Baseball Foundation announced on Tuesday. The Wallace Award is awarded annually to the nation’s player of the year.

Cozart returns as the top defensive infielder in the Southeastern Conference from last season and helped lead the Rebels to the 2006 Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship and a second-straight NCAA Super Regional. Satterwhite tied the school record for wins in a season and set the freshman record with an 11-2 mark on the mound. Both players earned All-America honors at the end of the season.

Cozart, a Collierville, Tenn., native earned First Team All-SEC honors last season as he helped lead Ole Miss to a 44-22 record and the 2006 Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship. He also played a pivotal role in the Rebels hosting a third-straight NCAA Regional and second consecutive NCAA Super Regional. The Rebels claimed the 2006 NCAA Regional before hosting Miami in the NCAA Super Regional.

Cozart finished the year with a .975 fielding percentage as he only committed eight errors on the season. The sophomore drove in 64 runs, the second highest on the team for the season, as he tallied 10 home runs one triple and 16 doubles. He also posted multiple game-winning hits this season, including a three-run walk-off homer against Memphis and a solo home run to beat Mississippi State 1-0 in the Mayor's Trophy game. He also was a big part of the Rebels turning 69 double plays on the year.

Over the summer, the shortstop competed in Cuba with the USA Baseball National Team as he helped the National Team to the FISU World Championship.

Satterwhite burst onto the scene in 2006, posting an impressive 11-2 record to set a new standard for freshmen and tying the school record set by All-America Jamey Price and Rich Ziblich. Satterwhite was named Freshman All-SEC and earned Freshman All-America honors as he helped the Rebels tally the second-most wins in a season, including the run through the Southeastern Conference Tournament and into the Super Regionals.

In addition to his 11-2 record, Satterwhite posted two saves on the season. He opened the season as a starter before finding a home as a closer as the season progressed, shutting down opponents late to help the Rebels to a strong finish down the stretch.

The Wallace Watch will be trimmed to 12 semi-finalists by late May.  Then the selection committee will narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals, prior to the College World Series.  The finalists, their head coaches, and their parents will be invited to Lubbock, Texas, for a schedule of special events tied to the award banquet, which will again be nationally televised by Fox Sports Network and Fox College Sports.

Ole Miss will open the 2007 campaign on Saturday, February 10, with a two-game series at home against the University of New Orleans.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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