NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt is home to 5-of-80 student-athletes on the watch list for the 21st-annual Buster Posey National Catcher of the Year Award—Coastal Carolina’s BT Riopelle, Little Rock’s John Michael Russ, Louisiana’s Drake Osborn, South Alabama’s Reid Powers and Troy’s Caleb Bartolero.
Presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission, the award is named for former Florida State standout Buster Posey, who was bestowed with the honor in 2008.
Riopelle—a junior out of Marietta, Ga.—has appeared in 21-of-23 games for the Chanticleers, hitting .316 with 10 runs scored, nine RBIs, five doubles and three home runs.