University of North Carolina Athletics
Four Diamond Heels Named To Wallace Watch
December 10, 2007 | Baseball
Dec. 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After each posting impressive numbers last season, North Carolina baseball standouts Dustin Ackley, Tim Federowicz, Tim Fedroff and Adam Warren were included in last week's preseason release of the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List.
The Wallace Award is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.
Carolina is one of just four teams with four or more nominees, joining Arizona State, Miami and Vanderbilt. The Sun Devils led the way with five players on the list.
The 2007 national freshman of the year, Ackley hit .402 a year ago with 10 home runs, 20 doubles and 74 RBI. The sophomore first baseman added All-America and first-team All-ACC honors last season.
The versatile Federowicz hit .333 and drove in 65 runs as a sophomore. In addition to being a standout defensive catcher, he went 2-2 on the mound with three saves and 26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. Federowicz was a second-team All-ACC pick.
Fedroff joined Ackley as a freshman All-America after batting .344 with five homers and 41 RBI in 2007. The outfielder also picked up second-team all-conference honors.
Warren earned all-district honors from the ABCA after going 12-0 with a 2.17 ERA in 15 appearances, which included 12 starts. The righty won a pair of games at the College World Series and held opponents to a .220 average over 70 2/3 innings.
Last year's Brooks Wallace award went to Vanderbilt pitcher, David Price. Price was the first overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft and is currently pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. The 2006 winner was standout pitcher/designated hitter Brad Lincoln of Houston. Nebraska's Alex Gordon, now with the Kansas City Royals, took home the 2005 trophy. The inaugural award was given in 2004 to Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton, who is now catching for the Oakland A's.
