Players Keeping Pace as Midseason Pressure Approaches …
CollegeBaseball360.com has announced its fourth group of Primetime Performers, for action during the second week of March. Virginia junior rightfielder Dan Grovatt (Tabernacle, Fla.) has been named the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week while Kansas senior righthanded closer Brett Bochy (Poway, Calif.) is the CB360 Primetime Pitcher of the Week.
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Grovatt (pictured at left) and Bochy (right)lead the way for a Primetime Performer Honor Roll that includes 19 other players who delivered timely performances in pressure-packed situations during the past week. (front-page photo courtesy of Virginia)
Grovatt (pictured above; UVa photo) – batting .424 for the season – played a central role in college baseball’s biggest series of the season thus far, as the Cavaliers (#2 in the CB360 Composite National Rankings) took 2-of-3 at #4 Florida State (5-0/9-8/8-9). Living up to his responsibility as the Cavs’ 3-hole hitter, Grovatt hit 8-for-14 (.571) during the FSU series and smacked three home runs while directly factoring into seven of the team’s runs spanning the three games (5 RBI, 5R). He helped deliver the first series win vs. Florida State in the history of Virginia baseball. Grovatt’s four hits and first career multi-HR game helped carry the Cavs to victory in the opener.
One day later, in the series clincher, Grovatt was the relief pitcher of record (1IP-R-H-K) while also playing a role (H-R) in UVa’s stunning six-run rally in the top of the 9th. He added a home run in the tight series finale – and earlier in the week helped beat a William & Mary team that was fresh off an upset vs. North Carolina.
Bochy (pictured below) – who has a year of eligibility remaining after this season – saved both of KU’s wins at top-ranked LSU (11-9, 8-4), in front of a raucous and expansive crowd at Alex Box Stadium. The son of San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy logged a total of 3.2 shutout innings and retired 11-of-13 batters he faced, with five strikeouts and no hits allowed (2 BB). His season numbers include a 0.87 ERA in 10.1 innings, with 19 Ks, four walks and only two hits allowed.
Similar to the weekly awards presented on sister site CollegeSoccer360.com, the CB360 Primetime Performer honors various players based on any/all of the following “primetime” criteria…not solely based on raw stats.
Primetime Performer Award Criteria
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings) or performed a high level in a game that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification.
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, etc.
• Performing at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field and vs. traditional rivals.
• Overcoming adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.
(top row, from left) UCLA’s Trevor Bauer, Pepperdine’s Cole Cook, BC’s Pat Dean, Louisville’s Neil Holland, Virginia’s Danny Hultzen, (bottom row, from left) Liberty’s P.J. Jimenez and Cal’s Erik Johnson.
The other 19 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll include UCLA so. righthander Trevor Bauer (Valencia, Calif.), Pepperdine jr. RHP Cole Cook (Los Aneles, Calif.), Boston College jr. LHP Pat Dean (Naugatuck, Conn.), Louisvile jr. RHP Neil Holland (Owensboro, Ky.), UVa so. LHP Danny Hultzen (Bethesda, Md.), Liberty sr. 2B P.J. Jimenez (Yucaipa, Calif.), Cal so. RHP Eric Johnson (Los Altos, Calif.), Duke jr. SS Jake Lemmerman (Newport Beach, Calif.), Kansas jr. RF Casey Lytle (Phoenix, Ariz.), Florida State sr. LF/RHP Mike McGee (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Illinois jr. DH Casey McMurray (Willow Springs, Ill.), Northridge jr. CF Drew Muren (Ramona, Calif.), South Dakota St. jr. RHP Alex Oberle (San Jose, Calif.), Cal fr. 3B Tony Renda (Hillsborough, Calif.), Evansville fr. SS Eric Stamets (Dublin, Ohio), Long Beach so. 3B Joey Terdoslavich (Sarasota, Fla.), Charleston Southern RHP/RF Tyler Thornburg (Atlanta, Ga.), The Citadel jr. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (Sturgis, Mich.) and BYU so. 1B Alex Wolff (Orem, Utah).
(from left) Duke’s Jake Lemmerman, KU’s Casey Lytle, Florida State’s Mike McGee, Illinois’ Casey McMurray, Northridge’s Drew Muren and South Dakota State’s Alex Oberle.
The 21 honorees include eight pitchers (seven RHPs), three two-way players (RF/LHP, LF/RHP, RHP/RF), two shortstops, two third basemen, a first baseman, a second baseman, one player from each outfield spot, and a DH. The selections feature 11 juniors, five sophomores, three seniors and the freshmen Renda and Stamets. Roughly 40% of the honorees (9) hail from California – five of them playing at in-state schools (UCLA, Pepperdine, Cal 2 and Northridge), but others coming from throughout the country (Kansas, Liberty, Duke and South Dakota State). The other players include two from Florida and one each from Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Utah.’
(from left) Cal’s Tony Renda, Evansville’s Eric Stamets, Long Beach’s Joey Terdoslavich, Charleston Southern’s Tyler Thornburg, The Citadel’s Asher Wojciechowski and BYU’a Alex Wolff.
Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll #4 (March 8-14)
(presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
“It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”
Player (Pos.) … School … Yr. … Hometown … Stats & Notes
Trevor Bauer (RHP) … UCLA … So. . … Valencia, CA
Took shutout into 9th and racked up 18 Ks, as Bruins beat #44 Mississippi in Corpus Christi (8+IP-3H-2BB)
*Brettt Bochy (RHP) … Kansas … Sr. … Poway, CA
Saved both of KU’s victories while retiring 11-of-13 batters faced, in series at #1 LSU (3.2IP-2BB-5K)
Cole Cook (RHP) … Pepperdine … Jr. … Los Angeles, CA
Set series tone with complete-game 9-3 win vs. #12 East Carolina (2 earned runs, 8H-3BB-8K)
Pat Dean (LHP) … Boston College … Jr. … Naugatuck, CT
Struck out nine in big win at #21 Miami (8IP-6H-BB)
*Dan Grovatt (RF/LHPF) … Virginia … Jr. … Tabernacle, NJ
3-hole hitter who paced Virginia offense in series win (5-0/9-8/8-9) at #4 Florida St. (3HR-5 RBI-5 R)
Neil Holland (RHP) … Louisville … Jr. … Owensboro, KY
Picked up a win and 2 saves (4IP-R-H-BB-6K) spanning midweek game with Indian (9-7) and series at #18 Ol’Miss (6-1/12; 10-8)
Danny Hultzen (LHP) … Virginia … So. … Bethesda, MD
Made game-1 statement with 6.0 shuttout inning at #4 Florida State (2H-6K; UVa won 5-0)
P.J. Jimenez (2B) … Liberty … Sr. … Yucaipa, CA
2-hole hitter went 5-for-10 to spark pair of wins (9-1/14-9) over #34 St. John’s ( RBI, 6R, HR, BB)
Erik Johnson (RHP) … California … So. … Los Altos, CA
Won 8-6 opener at #23 Rice (6IP-2H-BB-6K), leading Bears to split of 4-game series
Jake Lemmerman (SS) … Duke … Jr. … Newport Beach, CA
Leadoff batter who hit 4-for-9 in pair of wins (15-11/5-3) at #11 UNC (4RBI-4R-HR-2B-BB-SB)
Casey Lytle (RF) … Kansas … Jr. … Phoenix, AZ
Smacked 4 doubles while leading offense in series win at #1 LSU (5-for-9, 4 RBI, 5R, 2 BB; 11-9 & 8-4 wins)
Mike McGee (LF/RHP) … Florida State … Sr. … Port St. Lucie, FL
Two-way talent who paced team’s midweek 1-hitter vs. Jacksonville (6IP-4BB-9K; FSU won 2-0), then had strong series vs. #2 Virginia (4-RBI-3R-HR-2 2B), including key role in 9-8 win (2-5/3RBI-HR-2B; 1.2IP-2K)
Casey McMurray (DH) … Illinois … Jr. … Willow Springs, IL
Drove in 5 runs to lead upset win at #5 Coastal Carolina (HR-2B;also homered in loss vs. CC)
Drew Muren (CF) … CS Northridge … Jr. … Ramona, CA
His grand slam sparked 5-3 win over #12 East Carolina (also 6-16 in series win over LMU, 6RBI-5R-HR-2B-2BB-2SB)
Alex Oberle (RHP) … South Dakota State … Jr. … San Jose, CA
Posted impressive win at #16 Arkansas (6.2IP-R-3H-3BB-3K)
Tony Renda (3B) … California … Fr. … Hillsborough, CA
Led Bear offense during pair of wins (8-6/6-4) at #23 Rice (4-6, 5BI, 3R, HR, 3B, 2 BB)
Eric Stamets (SS) … Evansville … Fr. … Dublin, OH
2-hole hitter who delivered in clutch during 8-4 win at #19 Kentucky (2-5, 2 RBI, 2R, 2 2B, 2 BB, 2 SB)
Joey Terdoslavich (3B) … Long Beach State … So. … Sarasota, FL
Hit 6-for-8 in pair of wins (7-4/7-3) over #33 Wichita St. (4RBI, 2R, 2B)
Tyler Thornburg (RHP/RF) … Charleston Southern … Jr. … Atlanta, GA
Complate-game win at #10 Florida (6-3; 7H-3BB-11K; also sac. fly and 2 other hits in series)
Asher Wojciechowski (RHP) … The Citadel … Jr. … Sturgis, MI
His win in opener (4-0) headlined sweep of #36 Western Carolina (8IP-6H-14 Ks; 138 pitches/92 strikes)
Alex Wolff (1B) … BYU … So. … Orem, UT
3-hole hitter came through in pair of wins (10-4/16-4) vs. # Washington (4-9, 11 RBI, 6R, 3 HR, 2B)
* – Grovatt is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Bochy the Primetime Pitcher of the Week … note that rankings above refer to the CB360 top-50 … class years are based on academic standing (some players may have an extra year of eligibility)