Navy pitcher and Claremont High School graduate Noah Song has been selected as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy—awarded each year to the top college baseball player—by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, according to a news release from Navy baseball.

Earlier this month Song was also selected as a semifinalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award—for top amateur baseball player—one of 25 players throughout the country.

In 14 starts this season, the senior right-hander has posted a 1.44 ERA in 94 innings, which is sixth overall nationwide. Song also leads the country this year with 161 strikeouts and 11 wins, including six complete games and two shutouts.

In his four years at Navy, Song broke the record for career wins, 32; strikeouts, 428; innings pitched, 334-1/3; and tied for the most shutouts in school history at 9. All four records were previously set back in 1961 by Chuck Davis. This year Song also broke the single-season record for strikeouts, 161, which Davis set back in 1960. He has also moved into the top 15 for career ERA at 2.37, which is the lowest for Navy in the last 30 years. He is also second in strikeouts per nine innings in his career at 11.52.

Song, who graduated from CHS in 2015, becomes only the second player from Navy to be selected as a semifinalist for the writer’s association national player of the year.

He’s already been selected as the Patriot League pitcher of the year and has been named to the First-Team All-Patriot League for the second straight season. In his four seasons, he has broken the Patriot League record for most honors for Pitcher of the Week, after earning the award 10 times. He has also been selected as the National Player of the Week seven times—five in 2019 alone.

The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball’s most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage.

The list of 26 semifinalists hail from nine different conferences and 20 schools. The finalists will be published on Thursday, June 6, and the winner will be announced on Saturday, June 15 at the College World Series in Omaha. 

Navy finished the season with a record of 39-17, the second highest number of wins in program history.

CMS tennis teams lose close matches at NCAA championships

Both Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s and men’s tennis teams lost close matches in the NCAA Division III championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The women’s team was one win away from its second national title, but ended up on the short end of a 5-4 defeat to Wesleyan in the NCAA championship match on Wednesday afternoon at Stowe Stadium.

The second-ranked Athenas finish the year with a 27-2 record with the defeat, while number-four Wesleyan ends at 20-2, including wins over number-one Emory in the NCAA semifinals.

The CMS men’s team battled back from a 2-1 doubles deficit to take a 3-2 lead, but Emory was able to respond and come away with the final three decisions for a 5-3 win in the championship match, ending the CMS season as national runners-up.

The loss leaves the Stags with a final team record of 33-2, Emory ends with a 19-2 record after picking up its second national title in the last three years, both coming against CMS.

Three CMS women and two men will continue on in the NCAA singles championships later this week. Additionally, one men’s and one women’s team will be in the doubles championship.

—Steven Felschundneff

steven@claremont-courier.com