Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech’s Ethan Bates has been named an NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist, the NCBWA announced on Wednesday.
Eight conferences are represented with finalists, as Conference USA and the Southeastern Conference lead the way with two each. Other conferences included are the Atlantic Coast Conference, the American Athletic Conference, the Big 12 Conference, the Big West Conference, the Pac-12 Conference, and the West Coast Conference.
Bates led the nation in saves with 17 and broke the Louisiana Tech single-season saves record. The Hot Springs, Arkansas native finished the season with a 3.43 ERA in his 36 appearances on the mound.
Bates registered 52 strikeouts on the bump while giving up 20 walks for the Diamond Dogs. Batters hit just .180, which was the second lowest on the team behind only Sam Bordersen.
Bates finished second all-time in saves at Louisiana Tech with a career total of 27, trailing only Caleb Dudley’s 29 saves. Bates also had back-to-back seasons with double digit saves after recording 10 saves in 2023 and 17 saves in 2024.
The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 14, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalists
(stats as of June 5, 2024)
Player Yr Team (Conference) APP IP ERA W/L SVs
Ben Abeldt So. TCU (Big 12) 26 44.1 1.83 3-0 8
Evan Aschenbeck Sr. Texas A&M (SEC) 26 60.1 1.64 6-1 7
Ethan Bates Sr. Louisiana Tech (CUSA) 36 44.2 3.43 2-1 17
Charlie Beilenson Gr. Duke (ACC) 34 62.2 2.01 7-3 12
Mason Burns Sr. Western Kentucky (CUSA) 28 36.0 4.00 3-3 15
Griffin Herring So. LSU (SEC) 21 50.1 1.79 6-1 6
Bridger Holmes Jr. Oregon State (Pac-12) 25 32.0 1.97 3-4 13
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman Jr. East Carolina (AAC) 24 46.1 1.55 3-2 5
Izaak Martinez r-Sr. UC San Diego (Big West) 25 63.1 1.85 4-3 9
Conner Thurman r-Sr. San Diego (WCC) 29 38.2 1.40 4-0 5
