June 4, 2004

WICHITA, Kan. - North Carolina junior catcher Chris Iannetta was named one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher, and also picked up third-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Thursday. Tar Heel outfielder Marshall Hubbard was also named third-team All-America by the publication.

Also a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick, Iannetta is having an outstanding season at the plate, batting .342 with 15 home runs and 68 RBI. Behind the plate, he has picked off nine runners and has thrown out 50 percent (24-of-48) would-be base stealers. Iannetta owns a .987 fielding percentage in a team-best 539 chances.

The Johnny Bench Award is presented annually at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet to the nation's top collegiate catcher, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters, sportscasters, Division I coaches and scouts. Joining Iannetta as finalists are Landon Powell of South Carolina and Kurt Suzuki of Cal State Fullerton. A final vote among the national selection committee will occur during the College World Series. All three finalists will be invited to Wichita for the Seventh Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita. Johnny Bench will present the award to the recipient.

The third-team All-America honor is the first of Iannetta's career. Hubbard was also named a first-team All-America by USA Today Sports Weekly last week. He leads the Tar Heels and ranks near the top of the conference with a .365 average, 16 home runs and 79 RBI. He is also slugging .682 on the year and has 20 doubles. Defensively, he has committed just two errors in 118 chances. Hubbard also has eight assists to lead all Carolina outfielders. He needs just two RBI to tie the Carolina single-season school record.

Hubbard, Iannetta and the Tar Heels open play in the NCAA Columbia Regional against Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. Friday.