CLEMENS AWARD VOTING NOW UNDERWAY

HOUSTON: (May 6)

David Price was the voter's choice in 2007. Voters have started the process to find the 2008 Clemens Award winner.

The first stage in the process that will eventually select the fifth winner of The Roger Clemens Award has begun, with voters around the country submitting their initial choices for consideration. The Clemens Award honors the top pitcher in college baseball, with the winner announced in mid-July in Houston.

In the first round, each voter is asked to provide the names of six pitchers they feel are qualified to remain in contention for the honor. The top 10 pitchers named on ballots will be announced on May 15 as semifinalists for the 2008 Clemens Award. The second round of voting will cut that list to the three finalists, who will be revealed on June 5.

David Price of Vanderbilt won the fourth Roger Clemens Award last July, joining Andrew Miller of North Carolina, Luke Hochevar of Tennessee and Jered Weaver of Long Beach State in being honored with college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award.

Voters for The Roger Clemens Award are broken down into three groups. All Division 1 head baseball coaches are issued ballots, as are a selected group of writers and broadcasters who cover the college game. In addition the 16 winners of the R.E. Bob Smith Award, which was presented in Houston in 1988-2003, are asked to vote, along with the 13 finalists from the first four years of the Clemens Award.

The Roger Clemens Award was named after pitching legend Roger Clemens, who began his march to stardom while leading the University of Texas to the College World Series title in 1983. As a major-leaguer, Clemens won 354 games (eighth best in history), fanned 4,672 hitters and won seven Cy Young Awards, emblematic as the top pitcher in his league. The Roger Clemens Award is the only award of its kind, honoring the finest pitchers in college baseball.

The event is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association, which has donated more than $300,000 to the charities from the net proceeds from the first four dinners. The GHBA is a non-profit 501.3 (C) organization dedicated to the growth of amateur baseball in the Houston area.

For media information on the Clemens Award, please contact Bill Cousins (281) 924-8938 or by email info@clemensaward.com.