LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Baseball senior captain Phil Madonna has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. The Gibsonia, Pennsylvania native is amongst 97 backstops who were nominated by their coaches for the award which annually honors the nation's Top Division I catcher.

The 2018 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com will be narrowed down to a list of semifinalists who will be announced on May 16. 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, and a final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita, Kansas, and the winner will be announced at the 21st Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2018.

Madonna has appeared in nine games so far this season, including eight starts behind the plate. He's started 7-28 at the dish for an early .250 batting average, with an RBI and a stolen base. A 2016 MAAC All-Tournament Team selection, Madonna has played in 129 career games to date including 103 starts, while registering a .271 batting average with 43 RBI. Defensively, he's thrown out 22.1% of would-be base stealers, and posted a .988 fielding percentage.

Madonna and the Saints return to action this weekend when they open a three-game series at 23rd ranked Central Florida Saturday at 2 p.m.