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Tennessee's Jeff Lockwood was among a list of 40 players named to the initial watch list for the fourth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Thursday. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.

As a true freshman last season, Lockwood led the SEC with eight saves. The two-way standout from Halls High School is expected to serve as the Vols’ closer this year. The left-hander recorded 42 strikeouts against 16 walks in 46 2/3 innings of action a season ago.

Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information directors. The initial list will be updated with a midseason release the week of April 14, including national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, May 28, prior to start of NCAA Regional competition.

In other news, UT sophomores Yan Gomes and Lockwood earned second-team inclusion on SEBaseball.com’s Preseason All-SEC Team, the Web site announced Thursday.

Gomes, a catcher from Miami, Fla., was a Freshman All-America honoree in 2007, and his eight home runs last season are tops among all returning Vols. He hit .310 last year with 70 hits and 47 RBI while starting all 59 of Tennessee’s games (26 at catcher and 33 at first base).

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.