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Johnny Bench Awards 2022
About
For two decades, the Johnny Bench Award was presented to college baseball’s top NCAA Division I catcher. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission created the award in 2000, and in 2019 was brought by Johnny to the Cincinnati Reds for an expanded program.
The award now includes a top college softball winner, as well as regional, "Reds Country", high school baseball and softball honorees from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. All winner are recognized in the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Candidates are assembled from direct online submissions, All-State rosters, other award nominations and state athletic association recommendations. An awards committee determines a group of finalists based on statistics and support from local sources from each state. Johnny hand picks the winner.
Selection Process & Deadlines
Watch List - Beginning of February
Starting February 1, 2022, the Johnny Bench Awards will be accepting candidates to be added to the watch list. Catchers are also added based on scouting recommendations and published rankings.
Stats Collection - End of May
All watch list candidates will be asked for their regular season statistics. Catchers will then be ranked by statistical qualifiers. Qualifiers will have played the majority of their games at the catching position.
Finalists - Mid June
With the support of state coaching associations and other sources, catchers are narrowed down to a group of 3-5 finalists. Based on these recommendations, Johnny hand picks the winners which are announced late June.
Awards Banquet - Mid July
Winners are hosted in Cincinnati by the Reds organization for an awards banquet benefiting the Reds Community Fund and Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund. Announcement of winners varies depending on stat collection and event timing.
About the award
2021 Awards Presented by MSA Sport
Thank you to our presenting sponsor, MSA Sport.
MSA Design's passion for sports blends with thier love of architecture. The result: they've never missed an Opening Day-not a client’s, nor their favorite teams’. As avid sports fans, MSA’s passion for sports is what fuels their designs and overall growth within the MSA Sport division. The focus: enhancing the player and the fan experience. Since 1997, MSA Sport specializes in sports facilities design, stadium enhancement and fan engagement, while remaining a national leader in planning and designing of athletic facilities. Through novelty and technology they craft unique brand identities at the professional, collegiate, community recreation, and high school level.
2021 TOP College Catchers of the year
Kayla Kowalik, Kentucky - Softball
The 1st University of Kentucky softball player to win the division 1 College Batting Champion, Kayla lead the league in batting average among qualifiers while recording 100 hits and a record hitting steak. She was named to Softball America and National Fastpitch Coaches Association 1st team All-American and was a USA Softball Player of the Year finalist.
Matheu Nelson, Florida State - Baseball
Shortly after his selection to this award, he joined Johnny Bench in the ranks of Cincinnati Reds catchers after being draft by them in the first round. Matheu was selected as a 1st team All-American by several organizations, including Baseball America and the NCBWA. He was named a semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Awards, as well as ACC and Rawlings/Perfect Game Player of the Year.
2021 High School Softball Catchers
Madison Jellison - Ohio
Watkins Memorial High School
· Division 1 First Team All-State Catcher
· Central District All Star
· All-Metro Player of the Year
· Committed to University of Toledo
Sydney Melton - Kentucky
Lyon County High School
· An East-West State All Star
· A 1st team All-State catcher
· Set a school home run record this past season
· Committed to Southeast Missouri State
Sarah Stone- Indiana
Bedford North High School
· 3 Time All State Catcher
· Miss Softball Finalist
· National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America
· Transferred to Indiana University
Emily Allen - West Virginia
Parkersburg High School
· 3x First Team All-State Catcher
· Premier Girls Fastpitch Regional All-American Finalist
· Conference Player of the Year
· Committed to North Carolina State University
2021 High School Baseball Catchers
Trey Pancake- Ohio
South Range High School
· D3 First Team All-State Catcher
· First Team All Prep Baseball Report Team
· 2021 PBR Position Player of the Year
· Committed to Ohio State University
Matt Klein - Kentucky
Trinity High School
· All-State Catcher and Academic All-State Athlete
· 2021 KY State Champion
· East Coast Pro Showcase Team
· Committed to University of Louisville
Austin Bode - Indiana
Columbus North High School
· 3x All Conference Catcher
· 2021 All State Catcher
· Prep Baseball Report’s #32 Catcher in the Country
· Committed to University of Louisville
Parker Redden - West Virginia
Shady Spring High School
· First Team All-State Catcher
· US Elite National Team
· All Coalfield Conference Catcher
· Committed to the University of Delaware
Johnny Bench Awards
Scouting has begun for the 2022 season. If you have a high school baseball or softball catcher to nominate from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or West Virginia. Click the link below