FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — ARIZONA junior first baseman Dillon Baird has been named the Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week and ARIZONA STATE junior right-handed pitcher Mike Leake has been named Pitcher of the Week for May 18 – 24, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Baird led Arizona to a series sweep at Oregon last weekend, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with three home runs, including a grand slam, and a double against the Ducks. The Prescott, Ariz., native scored six runs and collected seven RBI as he ends the season first in the Pac-10 with a .433 average, 53 percentage points higher than the next best hitter and the highest regular season ending batting average for any Pac-10 player since 2001. The junior, who finishes the season on a 22 game hitting streak, blasted his second grand slam of the season on May 23, giving the Wildcats the early lead against the Ducks. On May 24, Baird was 4-for-5 at the plate, totaling half of his team’s hits. He had a pair of home runs and tallied three RBI as Arizona went on to win 5-2. Against Pac-10 pitching, he hit .472 to lead the Conference.
This is the first weekly honor for Baird and the 52nd player of the week all-time for Arizona.
Leake was sensational once again for Arizona State, throwing his second straight complete-game shutout. The Fallbrook, Calif., native held UCLA to just four hits as the Sun Devils captured the 4-0 victory to secure the Pac-10 title outright for the third consecutive season. Again, Leake fanned 12 batters without issuing a walk. The Bruins managed to hit just .133 against the righty, who earned his 14th win of the season, a new career high. During Pac-10 play, Leake finished 9-0 with six complete games and two shutouts, striking out 87 batters while walking only 12.
This marks the fourth weekly pitching honor for Leake, all coming this season, and the 56th overall for Arizona State.
Also nominated (Player): Riccio Torrez, ASU; Jay Ponciano, WSU
Also nominated (Pitcher): Preston Guilmet, ARIZ; Chris Petrini, CAL; Sam Gaviglio, OSU; Drew Storen, STAN
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; Apr. 13 – Kyle Conley, Jr., OF, WASH; Apr. 20 – Jeff Kobernus, Jr., INF, CAL; Apr. 28 – Cody Decker, Sr., INF, UCLA; May 5 – Bobby Coyle, So., OF/DH, ARIZ; May 11 – Brent Milleville, Sr., INF, STAN; May 18 – Jared Prince, Sr., OF, WSU; May 25 – Dillon Baird, Jr., 1B, ARIZ.
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; Apr. 13 – Rob Rasmussen, So., LHP, UCLA; Apr. 20 – Trevor Bauer, Fr., RHP, UCLA; Apr. 28 – Preston Guilmet, Sr., RHP, ARIZ; May 5 – Jason Erickson, Sr., RHP, WASH; May 11 – Dixon Anderson, Fr., RHP, CAL; May 18 – Mike Leake, Jr., RHP, ASU; May 25 – Mike Leake, Jr., RHP, ASU.
