Dalton Bowers Named to Initial Brooks Wallace List
LUBBOCK, Texas — University of New Mexico shortstop Dalton Bowers, who has been on a major tear of late, has been named to the initial 2016 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. The award, sponsored by Mizuno, honors the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented as part of the annual Night of Champions celebration on July 2 in Lubbock.
Bowers was one of two Mountain West players on the midseason watch list, joining Kporby Batesole of Fresno State from the Mountain West. In all 54 players from around the nation were placed in the initial watch list.
Bowers, who doubled in the 10th inning yesterday to drive in the winning run in UNM’s 6-5, 10-inning win over No. 7 Texas Tech, is hitting .331 on the season with three home runs and 30 runs batted in over 37 games, all starts, at shortstop. He also has 12 doubles and two triples and has scored 31 times. However, it’s not just about offense with Bowers, as he has been brilliant defensively, with head coach Ray Birmingham saying last week that, “Dalton might be the best defensive shortstop I’ve had in my time at UNM.”
Bowers has amazing range and has been a major factor in the Lobos sitting in the top 10 nationally in double plays with 44, having a hand in 35 of those. His 132 assists lead the team.
Bowers and the Lobos will take on San Diego State for a big Mountain West series as the first place Lobos look to win their seventh consecutive series starting on Friday at 6 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field.