Tech has to to "watch"

Louisiana Tech put two players on the latest Brooks Wallace Award Watch List -- Brandon Hudson of Benton and Brian Rike.

The Wallace Award is the College Baseball Foundation's Player of the Year Award and the first three awards have gone to players who have become high-round draft picks (Kurt Suzuki in 2004; Alex Gordon, 2005 and Brad Lincoln, 2006). While it seems a long shot for either Tech player to grab the award, Hudson and Rike have proven their seasons have been worthy of national attention.

Rike is among the nation's top home run hitters and Hudson has been a two-way threat who has earned WAC Player and Pitcher of the Week honors this season.

What is most impressive is they're drawing the attention at Tech, which is battling to raise its profile and its NCAA Regional hopes. The Bulldogs' pair of nominees equal the total for the rest of the state. Tulane's Brad Emaus and LSU's Blake Dean are the only other Pelican staters on the list.

For what it's worth (and I have no official say in this), my top three would be: Kyle Russell, OF, Texas; David Price, LHP, Vanderbilt and Brian Matusz, RHP, San Diego.