FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Oregon State junior catcher Ryan Ortiz has been named the Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week and Arizona State junior left-handed pitcher Josh Spence has been named Pitcher of the Week for Mar. 30 – Apr. 5, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Ortiz led Oregon State to a series sweep over California last week, its first sweep over a Pac-10 team since 2006. The San Diego, Calif., native batted .500 (6-for-12) with his biggest hit being a single to center as a walk-off game-winner in the bottom of the 11th on Apr. 5. He hit safely in all three games for the Beavers, recording four RBI, a walk and a double, while registering a .667 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage. The junior now has seven multiple-hit games and six multiple-RBI efforts this season.
This marks the second weekly honor for Ortiz and the 55th all-time for Oregon State.
Spence earned a win and a save for ASU last week. On Apr. 1, the Victoria, Australia, native came out of the bullpen to pitch the final two innings of the Sun Devils’ 3-1 victory over No. 1 Cal State Fullerton. He only allowed one hit, while striking out two batters in the save. The lefty picked up the win at Washington on Apr. 4, improving his record to 6-0 on the season. He pitched eight innings, striking out a career-high 14 batters without allowing an earned run. Spence leads the Pac-10 with a 1.17 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
This is the first weekly pitching honor for Spence and the 54th overall for Arizona State.
Also nominated (Player): Drew Maggi, ASU; Niko Gallego, UCLA; Anthony Vasquez, USC; Jared Prince, WSU
Also nominated (Pitcher): Tyler Anderson, ORE; Greg Peavey, OSU; Drew Storen, STAN; Robert Stock, USC; Matt Way, WSU
2009 Pac-10 Players of the Week: Feb. 24 – Jason Kipnis, Jr., OF, ASU; Mar. 3 – Mark Canha, So., OF/1B, CAL; Mar. 10 – Kyle Conley, Jr., OF, WASH; Mar. 17 – Cody Decker, Sr., INF, UCLA; Mar. 24 – Casey Haerther, Jr., INF, UCLA; Mar. 31 – Derek Jones, Fr., OF, WSU; Apr. 6 – Ryan Ortiz, Jr., C, OSU
2009 Pac-10 Pitchers of the Week: Feb. 24 – Kevin Couture, Jr., RHP, USC; Mar. 3 – Mike Leake, Jr., RHP, ASU; Mar. 10 – Jordan Pries, Fr., LHP, STAN; Mar. 17 – Jason Stoffel, Jr., RHP, ARIZ; Mar. 24 – Mike Leake, Jr., RHP, ASU; Mar. 31 – Trevor Bauer, Fr., RHP, UCLA; Apr. 6 – Josh Spence, Jr., LHP, ASU
