CARY, N.C. – Eastern Kentucky University outfielder Kendal Ewell is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which is given each year by USA Baseball to the top amateur baseball player in the country.
 
The 44th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 24 on ESPN.  Ewell is the only player from the ASUN Conference to be chosen as a semifinalist.
 
Previous winners include the likes of Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kris Bryant (2013), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), David Price (2007), Robin Ventura (1988) and Will Clark (1985).
 
A total of 31 players were chosen as semifinalists.  Ewell is one of 11 athletes who played their way into consideration since the midseason watch list was announced on April 5.  The sophomore is only the second player in program history to be a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.  Left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich was one of 50 semifinalists in 2008.
 
At least one athlete from 12 different NCAA conferences earned semifinalist honors this year.  The Atlantic Coast Conference leads all leagues with seven on the list, while six players represent the Southeastern Conference, four hail from the Big 12 and three compete in the Pac-12.
 
Ewell hit .386 this season with 10 doubles, 14 home runs, 50 RBIs, 55 runs scored and 37 walks.  He posted a .653 slugging percentage and a .506 on-base percentage.  The Calumet City, Illinois native is third in the ASUN in average, third in slugging, third in on-base percentage, fifth in hits (78), sixth in runs, seventh in home runs, ninth in walks and 14th in RBIs.  He is 12th in NCAA in on-base percentage, 31st in average, 67th in slugging and 71st in RBIs.
 
A ballot will be sent to a voting body consisting of baseball media members, select professional baseball personnel and USA Baseball staff, and the previous winners of the award – a group of more than 150 voters.  As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of semifinalist.  On June 8, USA Baseball will announce the finalists.
 
Fan voting will be part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2022.  Beginning May 24 and continuing to June 6, fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player on GoldenSpikesAward.com.
 
The Colonels play their second game at the ASUN Tournament on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. against Jacksonville State at JetBlue Park.