CB360 Primetime Performers #14 (5/24; full release)

Auburn junior designated hitter Kevin Patterson

Auburn junior designated hitter Kevin Patterson (Birmingham, Ala.) and Pepperdine junior lefthander Matt Bywater (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) headline the 14th group of honorees in the CB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll, recognizing clutch efforts for the week of May 17-23.

Pepperdine junior lefthander Matt Bywater

Patterson has been named the national Primetime Player of the Week and Bywater is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week, while 16 others (listed below) join them in comprising the Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll, as selected by CollegeBaseball360.com. Pattrerson’s power stroke helped lift Auburn to the SEC West title following a series sweep at Mississippi, while Bywater set a Pepperdine record with his fourth solo shutout of the season in a win over San Diego that halted USD’s quest for an unbeaten run through the WCC.

CLICK HERE for the archive of previous CB360 Primetime award winners (scroll down for earlier weeks).

Auburn junior DH Kevin Patterson – pictured here during summer action with the Cape Cod's Cotuit Kettleers – came off the bench to launch a game-changing, 2-out/3-run home run that sparked the Tigers on to a series sweep at Ole Miss that secured the SEC West title (Auburn action photo of Patterson will be posted when available).

As a designated hitter, PATTERSON‘s primary function is to provide clutch hits and power from the left side of the plate. With Ole Miss ace lefthander Drew Pomeranz starting game-1 on May 20, Patterson did not start the game – but the imposing 6-foot-4, 235-ponder came off the bench to shift the game with one swing of the bat.

The Rebels (CB360 #17) were clinging to a 3-2 lead, when Pomeranz departed with two runners aboard. Moments later, with 2-outs and the runners still on base, Patterson was announced as a pinch-hiiter and took the first pitch (ball) from RHP Brett Huber before pulling a 2-out, 3-run home run down the rightfield line. A 3-2 deficit suddenly had transformed into a 5-3 lead, and Auburn went on to post a valuable win over the Pomeranz-led Rebels.

One day later, Patterson launched another 3-run bomb as the Tigers ran away with the game-2 win that clinched the SEC West Division title (he also had a walk and second run scored in that title-clinching victory).

BYWATER set the Pepperdine record with his fourth solo shutout of the season, after facing a surging San Diego team (#20 in the CB360 Composite National Rankings) that had yet to lose in West Coast Conference action and was led by ace pitcher Seth Blair.

Matt Bywater set up a Pepperdine record by tossing his fourth solo shutout of the season, while also halting the Waves' seven-game losing streak vs. San Diego and stopping USD's quest for an unbeaten run through the West Coast Conference (photo/graphic courtesy of Pepperdine).

The four shutouts surpass the record (3) previously shared by legendary Pepperdine pitchers Mike Scott, Randy Wolf and Patrick Ahearne. The San Diego offense (.314 team batting avg.) managed nine hits and three walks, but Bywater worked out of several jams – thanks to five timely strikeouts, 10 outs via ground balls (including three induced double plays) and even his first pickoff of the season).

Strong pitching from Bywater and Blair kept the game scoreless through the first four innings, but USD’s biggest threat came in the 6th (with two in scoring position and no outs). Bywater then rose to the challenge, as he caught cleanup batter Tony Strazara looking at strike-3 before Nick McCoy went down swinging and Zach Kometani had a routine 4-3 groundout – as Bywater snapped back to form in impressive fashion to maintain the shutout.

Bywater’s 114-pitch outing produced his fifth complete game of 2010 while dropping his season ERA to 2.29. The win also ended Pepperdine’s seven-game losing streak vs. the rival Toreros.

Primetime Performer Award Criteria (not based solely on raw stats, but rather …)
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings) or performed a high level in games that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification; made significant contribution to team’s postseason positioning (single-game wins, “quality” wins, series wins, road wins, etc.).
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, key defensive efforts, etc.
• Performed 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.
• Overcame adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.

The other 16 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for May 17-123 include (see capsules for each player at bottom of release): Florida jr. 2B Josh Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) … College of Challeston sr. 1B Greg Blake (Westerly, R.I.) …Clemson 5th-yr.-sr. CF Wilson Boyd (Hickory, N.C.) …Washington sr. 2B Doug Cherry (Redwood, Wash.) … Binghamton so. 1B Dave Ciocchi (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) … Northwestern (La.) State sr. LF Eric DeBlanc (Scott, La.) … Minnesota so. 2B/3B Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) … North Carolina sr. SS Ryan Graepel (Greensville, N.C.) … Oklahoma so. catcher Tyler Ogle (San Antonio, Texas) … Seton Hall fr. RHP Jon Prosinski (Skillman, NJ) …Bucknell jr. 1B Doug Shribman (Marblehead, Mass.) … Alabama sr. 3B/RHP Jake Smith (Shannon, Ala.) … Oregon State fr. catcher Andrew Susac (Roseville, Calif.) … Florida International so. SS Garrett Wittels (Bay Harbor Island, Fla.) … The Citadel jr. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (Sturgis, Mich.) … and Boston College so. SS Brad Zapenas (Nashua, N.H.).

The week-14 honorees include a two-way talent (3B/RHP), three first basemen and three shortstops, plus two catchers, a pair of second basemen, two righthanded pitchers, a utility infielder (2B/3B), leftfielder, centerfielder, DH and lefthanded pitcher. The 18 selections feature a 5th-year senior, five seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and a freshman. The honorees hail from 13 different home states, led by three from Florida, plus two each from Alabama, California and North Carolina, along with single players from the home states of Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.

PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL #14
(May 24, 2010 … 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

JOSH ADAMS (2B … #2)
Florida … Jr.
Jacksonville, FL
5-11  •  195  •  Bats: Right

Clutch 9-hole hitter, as Gators won first two games at #9 South Carolina (3-2/5-2) to win series that decided SEC title … brought home eventual winning run in opener before factoring into 4 runs (3RBI-R) in game-2 win that clinched title (in front record crowd of 8,242 at Carolina Stadium) … rose to occasion in 7th inn. of that game, breaking 2-2 tie with 2-out, 2-run 2B (later 2-out RBI single in 9th, on 0-2 pitch) … moved up to 5-hole in game-3 (3-5, RBI, R; 11-6 loss).

GREG BLAKE (1B … #24)
College of Charleston … Sr.
Westerly, RI
6-2  •  225  •  Bats: Left

Supplied game’s biggest hit from 6-hole, as Cougars posted big midweek none-conference win over #5 Coastal Carolina (12-4; played in Myrtle Beach, S.C.) … his 2-out, 3-run double highlighted 5-run top of the 7th that broke open a 4-4 game … went on to hit 3-for-4 (RBI, R, 3B, BB) in 10-8 win over UNC Wilmington.

WILSON BOYD (CF … #12)
Clemson… 5th-Yr.-Sr. … Hickory, NC
5-8  •  175  •  Bats: Left

His production from bottom of order (8/7-hole) helped Tigers sweep #10 Florida State (9-8/8-4/8-3), en route to winning ACC Atlantic Div. title … provided 2-out, 8th-inning single that plated decisive run in opener … hit 5-for-9 in FSU series (4RBI, 3R, HR, 4 BB).

*MATT BYWATER (LHP … #13)
Pepperdine … Jr.
Thousand Oaks, CA
6-2  •  195

Set Pepperdine record with his fourth solo shutout of the season (5-0), as Waves ended 7-game losing streak vs. San Diego and halted USD’s quest for an undefeated run through the WCC (9H, 3 BB, 5 Ks) … his 114-pitch outing included 10 outs via groundballs (induced three clutch double-plays and completed his first pickoff of the season).

DOUG CHERRY (2B … #3)
Washington … Sr.
Redwood, WA
5-10  •  175  •  Bats: Right

2-hole batter who played lead role in stunning 14-11 win over visiting #23 Oregon, as Huskies scored 2 in 9th, 4 in 10th and 2 in 11th … went 4-for-5 and factored into 6 runs (4 RBI, 2R; 2 2B, BB) during wild win … had leadoff single and scored to help force extra innings … came up again in the 10th and drove 2-run 2B to left, scoring moment’s later on Caleb Brown’s tying HR.

DAVE CIOCCHI (1B … #32)
Binghamton … So.
Hopewell Junction, NY
5-10  •  190  •  Bats: Left

3-hole batter who helped America East Conference champs extended win streak to 14 games, with series sweep at league runner-up Stony Brook (5-4/2-1/13-6) … hit 4-for-10 in the series, with 3 RBI, and 3 R (2 BB, HBP) … went 3-for-3 in the tight opener (RBI/R) and later hit huge 2-out/2-run triple in the 8th inning of series finale, helping turn 2-1 deficit into 8-2 lead.

ERIC DeBLANC (LF … #9)
Northwestern (La.) State … Sr.
Scott, LA
6-0  •  200  •  Bats: Right

Classic table-setter whose solid series helped sweep at #34 Southeastern Louisiana (first sweep of Lions this season), as Demons nearly claimed Southland title (8-5/8-4/10-7) … extended his hitting streak to 28 games, with multiple hits in each game … batted 8-for-14 from top of the order during the series, with 5 RBI, 2 runs, a double and a walk.

KYLE GEASON (2B/3B … #4)
Minnesota … So. … Eden Prairie, MN
6-2  •  195  •  Bats: Right

Another clutch 9-hole hitter whose huge effort in series-opening rout at Ohio State (4-for-6, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2 HR) sent Gophers on to series win (16-2/4-3/6-9) and Big Ten title, while also dropping OSU out of Big Ten Tournament that will be held on its home field.

RYAN GRAEPEL (SS … #24)
North Carolina … Sr. … Greensville, NC
6-2  •  170 … Bats: Right

Played steallar defense up the middle (no Es on 13 fielding chances) while batting 5-for-13 with 7 RBI, as UNC stayed in running for ACC Tournament with sweep of #21 Virginia Tech (13-6/5-3/10-2) … set tone for series with early HR in opener … his other series stats included a pair of doubles, a walk and a sacrifice fly.

TYLER OGLE (C … #35)
Oklahoma … So. … San Antonio, TX
5-10  •  180  •  Bats: Right

5-hole batter who helped Sooners post big 5-0 week that included 5-2 win vs. #14 Arkansas and sweep at Kansas (14-4/8-7/9-6) … delivered in 9th inning of game-2, driving 2-out, 3-run double to right-center for final 8-7 margin … reprised his heroics one night later, with 3-run HR in 9th for 9-6 win … earlier hit 2-for-4 with an RBI in upset win over Arkansas … went 4-for-11, reached 4 other times (3BB, HBP) and totaled 6 RBI in sweep at KU (3R, HR, 2B).

*KEVIN PATTERSON (DH … #21)
Auburn … Jr.
Birmingham, AL
6-4  •  235  •  Bats: Left

Imposing 5-hole batter whose pinch-hit, 2-out HR plated 3 runs in the 8th for 5-3 win at #17 Mississippi, in series opener (Tigers added 18-4 & 11-1 wins for sweep and SEC West title) … added another 3-run bomb (plus earlier BB/R) in game-2 victory that clinched the divisional title.

JON PROSINSKI (RHP … #29)
Seton Hall … Fr.
Skillman, NJ
6-3  •  185

Proven game-3 pitcher (with earlier wins over BIG EAST top teams Louisville and Pittsburgh) who helped beat yet another conference frontrunner, in 3-2 victory at #19 Connecticut … that result helped Louisville slide past UConn as the BIG EAST regular-season champ (a flip of positions that could affect both teams’ NCAA placement) … allowed only a single earned run (1 UER) in 7 IP at UConn (8 H, 2 BB, K; no-dec.).

*DOUG SHRIBMAN (1B … #26)
Bucknell … Jr.
Marblehead, MA
6-4  •  220  •  Bats: Right

The reigning CB360 Primetime Player of the Week who delivered in the clutch once again, as the Bison took the championship series vs. Holy Cross (7-8/4-2/12-7) to win Patriot League Tournament and qualify for the NCAA Championship … launched 3 home runs in Sunday’s pair of games (7 total RBI), including 3-run blast for 9-7 lead in 7th inning of the series finale.

JAKE SMITH (3B/RHP … #14)
Alabama … Sr.
Shannon, AL
6-2  •  190  •  Bats: Right

Delivered key offense in series sweep (11-3/4-2/9-7) at #48 Tennessee (as #5/#6 hitter),  as Tide beat fellow postseason contender en route to securing one of the final spots in the SEC Tournament … hit 2-run HR in top of 11th and picked up first win of his college career with two scoreless innings, during game-2 win that clinched SEC bid … had pair of HRs and 6 RBI in the series (4-13; 3R, 2B, SAC, SF).

ANDREW SUSAC (C … #10)
Oregon State … Fr.
Roseville, CA
6-1  •  200  •  Bats: Right

Unlikely offensive hero and 7-hole batter who turned in his first 3-hit game of the 2010 season – including key 2-run double in the 7th for 9-6 lead – as the NCAA hopefuls posted a key game-3 win at #1 Arizona State (9-8) …. factored into 4 of his team’s runs during that tightly-contested Pacific-10 Conference victory (3RBI, R).

GARRETT WITTELS (SS … #10)
Florida International … So.
Bay Harbor Island, FL
6-1  •  200  •  Bats: Right

3-hole batter who hit safely in all three games at Sunbelt Conference leader Florida Atlantic (CB360 #37), extending his hitting streak to 48 games (2nd-longest in NCAA history, behind Robin Ventura’s 58-game streak with the 1987 Oklahoma State squad) … went 2-for-5 (RBI, 2R, 2B) to help FIU win 12-4 opener and stay in running for 3rd-place Sunbelt fiinish … hit .500 in the series (7-for-14; 5 RBI, 3R, 3 2B, HBP) while playing error-free on 15 fielding chances.

ASHER WOJCIECHOWSKI (RHP … #9)
The Citadel … Jr.
Sturgis, MI
6-4  •  235

Southern Conference pitcher of the year who posted complete-game win in opener of showdown series at Georgia Southern (9-4), clinching share of SoCon title for Bulldogs … sparked team to series sweep and outright conference title … took a shutout into the 8th inning (as his offense built 9-0 lead), before allowing 4 runs (3 on a HR) … finished with 9 strikeouts, 10 groundouts, 9 hits allowed and only a pair of walks while setting tone for key series against SoCon contender.

BRAD ZAPENAS (SS … #2)
Boston College … So.
Nashua, NH … 6-1  •  180  •  Bats: Right

His first home run of the season was a huge one, going opposite-field in the 6th inning for 5-3 lead on #8 Georgia Tech en route to 6-3 win that secured BC the final spot in the ACC Tourmament (2-for-4, 2R) … hit 5-for-11 in the series from his #8 spot (4R, RBI, HR, 2B, BB), while facing talented GT pitching staff.

* – Auburn’s Patterson is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Pepperdine’s Bywater the Primetime Pitcher of the Week … note that rankings above refer to the top-50 of the CB360 Composite National Rankings (CNR) … primary class years are based on academic standing (some players may have an extra year of eligibility)