Tweet #theGAC OMAHA, Neb. - Three baseball student-athletes from the Great American Conference - Arkansas-Monticello's Ben Agredano, Arkansas Tech's Randy Vallejo and Southern Arkansas' Trevor Rucker - became semifinalists for the 2014 Josh Willingham Award.

The award honors DII college baseball’s most valuable player – an individual who not only excels on the field, but in the dugout, clubhouse and practice field as well, and leads his team to national championship caliber status. The forty-one exceptional student-athletes named make up a list of top players at the DII level whose contributions to their teams’ success this season were invaluable. The award is sponsored by Sales Consultants of St Louis.

Agredano set the UAM's single-season record for hits with 81. He broke Jamie Tucker's 1999 record of 80 hits. He led the GAC in hits this season and ranked second with a .384 batting average  He tied for second with 50 RBI. He paced the Boll Weevils in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles and total bases.

Vallejo led the GAC and continues to share the NCAA lead in saves with 18. No pitcher in the GAC has ever recorded more than 13 saves in the season. He recorded 12 of his saves during the Wonder Boys' 22-game win streak. Vallejo has earned two Pitcher of the Week honors this season on the way to a first team All-GAC selection.

Rucker claimed the GAC Freshman of the Year and GAC Tournament MVP honors. He hit .342 with six home runs, 37 RBI and 35 stolen bases. He ranked second in the conference in stolen bases and in runs scored with 51. In helping the Muleriders to the GAC Tournament title, he hit three home runs and drove in seven runs.

Only one conference, the Peach Belt with four semifinalists, had a greater representation among the semifinalists than the GAC.

The annual honor is named after the former North Alabama All American and current Major League Baseball star, Josh Willingham. While playing baseball at UNA, Willingham was a two-time All American and tied or broke fourteen school single-game, season, and career records. After his junior season, Willingham was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He is currently in the midst of his 11th season in the Major Leagues and is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.

The winner of the 2014 Josh Willingham Award will be named Monday, June 2nd following the Division II Championships which will held May 24th-31st in Cary, NC.