Hamilton on stopper-of-year watch list

49ers notes

-- Relief pitcher Bryan Hamilton is on the preseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year award.

Hamilton, a senior from Woodstock, Md., was 4-0 last season in 24 appearances, with two saves and a 2.01 ERA. He's also been named to a baseball writers' third-team preseason All-American team.

The 49ers, who opened preseason practice last Friday, open their season Feb. 18 at home against Coppin State.

Incidentally, Charlotte's winning percentage of 69.6 percent since 2006 is the eighth best in Division I over that period of time.

-- The 49ers raised $2,755 for Samaritan’s Feet in its Barefoot for Bare Feet Drives in January. The 49ers had drives during the men's basketball game against UMass on Jan. 19 and the women’s game against Xavier on Jan. 22. Coaches Alan Major and Karen Aston coached in bare feet to show support for the cause.

Seventy-seven pairs of new shoes were also donated. The money and shoes will provide 350 shoes for Samaritan's Feet.

Charlotte track star Darius Law helped organize the effort on campus.

“On behalf of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, I would like to thank the entire athletic department for supporting our efforts to provide new athletic shoes for impoverished children,” Law said in a statement. “I would like to specifically thank coach Major, coach Aston and her coaching staff for coaching barefoot and supporting such a great cause. I would also like to thank all of the students, faculty and fans that contributed to our Samaritan's Feet efforts by donating money and/or shoes. We are truly thankful and honored to be a part of Niner Nation.”