Fresno State Athletics
Two Bulldogs Named to Wallace Watch List
12/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 5, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The College Baseball Foundation and partner Mizuno announced Tommy Mendonca and Alan Ahmady have been named to the 2009 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List.
"We look forward to another great year of college baseball. The College Baseball Foundation continues to expand in many areas and we are excited to acknowledge and award achievements and outstanding character on and off the diamond," said Raymond Richardson, chairman of Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award.
The Wallace Award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. The 2009 award banquet will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 2, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.
The two Bulldog infielders helped the Bulldogs earn the program's first National championship and third-straight WAC Championship. They were also a part of an infield that led the nation in double plays turned in 2008.
Mendonca led the team in homeruns (19) and was named the College World Series MVP. In Omaha the third basemen hit four homeruns, which ties the CWS record. Mendonca also spent the summer playing with the USA National team and won a gold medal.
Ahmady earned First Team All-WAC honors in 2008 and was second in the nation in RBIs with 92. He was also sixth in the nation in hits with 110. Ahmady ended the season with a .382 batting average,13 homeruns, 17 doubles, and 3 stolen bases.
The two turned a double play against North Carolina that ended up being named the top play of the day on Sports Center. Ahmady caught the ball in foul territory, then launched the ball to third base and Mendonca tagged the runner out.
The Wallace Award is dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A four-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District his senior year. He led the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament in 1980.
After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27. The Plano, Texas, native was married to the former Sandy Arnold and they had one daughter, Lindsay Ryan.
Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award - Past Winners
2008 Buster Posey Catcher Florida State
2007 David Price Pitcher Vanderbilt
2006 Brad Lincoln Pitcher/DH Houston
2005 Alex Gordon 3B Nebraska
2004 Kurt Suzuki Catcher Cal State Fullerton
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, December 9 in the Save Mart Center at 7:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
