Watch List

FORT WORTH, Texas – Eastern Kentucky University outfielder Nick Howie is one of 36 players from across the country named to the watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats.
 
The award, created by the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, was open to nominations from all NCAA Division I baseball programs in the country.  The BBCSA is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.  This year's watch list consists of players representing 16 conferences around the country.  Howie is the only Ohio Valley Conference player on the list.
 
Before the 2020 season, Howie was chosen by D1Baseball.com as the 39th-best hitter in college baseball.  Over his first three seasons he was named to the OVC All-Rookie Team (2017), the All-OVC second-team (2018) and All-OVC first-team (2019).  Last season, Howie batted .353 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles, 45 RBIs and 48 runs scored. 
 
"Our first national watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats is outstanding," said Tracy Taylor, executive director of the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award.  "Going national is a big step for us and to have the quality of student-athletes nominated by their programs was extremely rewarding."  
 
Howie, a two-time Academic All-America® selection, carries a 4.0 grade-point-average.  He also received the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for 2019-20, the highest OVC individual academic/athletic honor.  The Oakville, Ontario native has averaged 25 hours of community service per year during his time at EKU.  He works as a tutor for pre-core business classes and has been active with Samaritan's Feet, Habitat for Humanity, Richmond Little League and the Richmond YMCA.

"The amount of All-American and all-conference recognition these players have earned on the playing field is impressive," Taylor said.  "But just as important is the number of academic honors; Academic All-American, scholar of the year, academic all-conference, that sets these young men apart."
 
The BBCSA originally started out in 2017 as an honor going to the top college hitter in Texas.  In 2019, the BBCSA expanded becoming a regional award covering Division I programs in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
 
The winner of the BBCSA will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall at the Fort Worth Club.  Fans can follow news about the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats and its Player of the Week honorees during the season at www.braganslugger.com.
 
The Colonels, who have started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001, will play a three-game series at No. 11 LSU starting Friday at 8 p.m. ET.  LSU junior Daniel Cabrera is also on the watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award.