WICHITA, Kan. - Junior catcher Jeremy Lucas leads the Indiana State baseball team in nearly all offensive categories this season and has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2012 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com and the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.

Lucas leads ISU with a .357 batting average this season, racking up 71 hits, 50 runs scored, 50 RBIs, 13 doubles and nine home runs. The ISU junior ranks in the top four in Missouri Valley Conference in all four categories. The West Vigo High School product is also the only member of the team this season that has started all 53 games as ISU has posted a 40-13 record, their first 40-win season since 1992.

The Johnny Bench Award is awarded each season to the nation's top collegiate catcher and is based on athletic ability, sportsmanship, team leadership and character.

Along with Lucas, the 11 other candidates for the award are: Derrick Chung (Sacramento Sate), Zachary Fisher (New Mexico State), Tucker Fawley (Coastal Carolina), Mitchell Garver (New Mexico), Tyler Heineman (UCLA), Joe Hudson (Notre Dame), Josh Ludy (Baylor), Jeff Melillo (Rutgers), Kevin Plawecki (Purdue), Jeremy Schaffer (Tulane) and Mike Zunino (Florida).

Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2012. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 15th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2012.