KU’s Czyz finalist for stopper award

Kansas University’s Don Czyz was named one of five finalists for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Thursday.

The other finalists are Kevin Gunderson from Oregon State, Josh Fields from Georgia, Vinnie Pestano from Cal State Fullerton and Cole St. Clair from Rice.

Czyz leads the nation with 18 saves and was an automatic finalist. The senior righty from Overland Park helped lead the Jayhawks to their first ever Big 12 tournament championship while posting a 1.62 earned-run average and six victories.

Gunderson (Portland, Ore.) is 2-2 with a 2.54 ERA and 15 saves.

Fields (Hull, Ga.) is 3-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 14 saves in 27 appearances.

Pestano (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) is 2-1 with 13 saves and a 0.97 ERA.

St. Clair (5-2) has 10 saves and a 1.59 ERA.