Leblanc Named Finalist for Brooks Wallace Award
6/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – Continuing a myriad of postseason accolades, Pitt shortstop Charles Leblanc has been named a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, as announced by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Tuesday afternoon.
The Brooks Wallace Award is annually given to the nation’s top shortstop. Leblanc joins a pair of outstanding fellow student-athletes on the short list, including Louisville’s Devin Hairston and Oklahoma’s Sheldon Neuse.
Leblanc hit .409 on the season to pace the Panther offense and capture the league's batting title. His mark was good for 13th in the nation and was the highest in the ACC since 2009 when Dustin Ackley of North Carolina recorded an average of .417. Leblanc led the team in average (.405), runs scored (45), hits (79), RBIs (46), on base percentage (.494) and assists (147). His on base mark of .494 was good for 17th in the NCAA.
A native of Laval, Quebec, Leblanc garnered Midseason All-America recognition from Perfect Game. He was named the ACC Player of the Week on April 4 after going 11-of-17 in a mid-week battle against Kent State and a three-game road series with Clemson. He had a six-RBI performance in a 15-5 victory over Clemson en route to his first weekly honor.
Leblanc was named first-team All-ACC for his efforts, becoming the first Panther to land on the ACC's first team. Four Panthers were awarded league postseason honors, the first Pitt players to garner All-ACC recognition since the university joined the ACC in 2013.
The winner of the Brooks Wallace Award will be announced as part of the annual Night of Champions on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas. The Night of Champions event also features the announcement of the winners of the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year Award, as well as the 2016 National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductions. The winners of the Johnny Bench Award and the Dick Howser Trophy will be recognized as well.
For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award or the College Baseball Hall of Fame's Night of Champions, visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.
#H2P
For all things Pitt baseball, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also follow skipper Joe Jordano on Twitter.