It’s not easy to garner national attention in NCAA baseball while playing in the Northeast…. It’s not easy to garner national attention in NCAA baseball while playing in the Northeast.

But Pitt second baseman Jim Negrych continues to do so.

The junior Negrych was recently named one of 16 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Negrych said last week. “To be on the semifinalist list for a prestigious award like the Dick Howser Trophy is something that I can take great pride in.”

Negrych, who finished the 2006 season batting .396 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs, has one year of eligibility left as a Panther, but is expected to be drafted in June’s Major League Baseball Draft.

So, his future at Pitt is uncertain, but head coach Joe Jordano believes he’s ready to move on with his career.

“I think the decision has been made,” he said about the possibility of Negrych leaving school early. “There’s no question that he’s going to go high in the major league draft.

“I think he’s going to be a high first-day pick and I think he’s going to have a great career in front of him.”

In only three years at Pitt, Negrych became one of five Panthers to record 200 hits in a career. Currently, he is the school’s all-time leader in walks (114), and ranks second in home runs (34), RBIs (163), doubles (47) and total bases (365).

The Dick Howser Trophy will be voted for by the members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the 2006 winner will be announced at the College World Series on Friday, June 16, in Omaha, Neb.

The trophy is given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager and is regarded as college baseball’s biggest award.

Current major leaguers Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, Kris Benson, J.D. Drew, Jason Jennings, Mark Teixeira, Mark Prior, Khalil Greene and Rickey Weeks are all former recipients of the award.