Feb. 20, 2008
From Bucknell Athletic Communications
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell baseball senior co-captain Jason Buursma was named to the National Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award watch list, the NCBWA announced recently. The award, which was first presented in 2005, is given annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball.
Forty players from 19 conferences earned spots on the initial 2008 list, which will be pared down midseason before five finalists are named on May 28. Buursma, who earns a spot on the list for a second consecutive year, is the lone Patriot League representative to make the cut.
Buursma enters his senior season coming off a stellar junior campaign that saw him finish first in the Patriot League with a 1.65 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched, the second lowest in league history. His five saves in 2007 helped him set a new career saves record for Bucknell with his 15th, which currently ranks second in the PL record book. He went a squad-best 4-1 over 19 appearances, including a complete game shutout in his first collegiate start, a 7-0 win over Navy. In 98.0 career innings, Buursma has compiled a 1.74 ERA with 79 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .215 batting average.
In 2006, Buursma was named to the ABCA All-East Region first team. The two-way player has earned three All-Patriot League honors, two first team accolades as a relief pitcher (2006 and 2007), and two second team recognitions, as both designated hitter (2005) and a first baseman (2006). In addition, he was selected in the 43rd round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Bucknell will open its 2008 season this Friday at Eastern Kentucky's Early Bird Tournament in Richmond, Ky., beginning with a 10 a.m. contest versus Toledo.
