Valparaiso University junior relief pitcher Jarad Miller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll H.S.) has been selected as one of 40 players to be named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award initial watch list.

The list will be updated in mid-April, and at the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists.

Miller was named to the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I Preseason All-American Third Team announced by Collegiate Baseball newspaper earlier this season and earned several All-American honors last season..

Miller set Valpo’s single season save record last year as a sophomore with 17, ranking second in the nation this year.  He posted a 2.16 earned run average in 25 innings of work while opponents hit just .178 against him in 2008.

For his career, the sophomore right-hander has a school-record 26 saves.

Valparaiso opens the 2009 baseball season on February 19 at McNeese State.