CB360 Primetime Performers #15 (6/1; full release)

Southern Mississippi senior righthander Scott Copeland

A pair of senior Texas natives – Lamar centerfielder Anthony Moore (Cedar Hills) and Southern Mississippi righthander Scott Copeland (White Oak) – rose to the occasion during conference tournament week and earned top honors among the 15th group of honorees in the CB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll. (front-page photo courtesy of Lamar)

Lamar senior centerfielder Anthony Moore

Moore has been named the national Primetime Player of the Week and Copeland is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week, while 15 others (listed below) join them in comprising the Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll, as selected by CollegeBaseball360.com. Moore combined clutch hitting (10-for-16, 10 RBI, 2 2B), timely power (3 HR) and slick fielding to lead 7th-seeded Lamar to the Southland Conference Tournament title and an automatic bid into the NCAAs.

Copeland faced only five batters over the minimum (45) during 13.1 scoreless innings at the Conference USA Tournament (4H-2BB-4K-30BF). He improved to 10-0 with a dominant complete game in the 9-3 opener vs. Memphis (4H-K) before coming out of the bullpen to quiet Rice’s red-hot offense and pick up his 11th win in the title-game showdown with the top-seeded Owls (4.1IP-2BB-3K-15BF).

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

MOORE was a leading force behind Lamar’s historic run to the Southland Conference Tournament title. The 5-11, 195-pound lefthanded hitter went 10-for-16 (.625) from the 6-hole during four games at the tournament, with 10 RBI, three home runs and a pair of doubles (6R-BB) – as the 7th-seeded Cardinals bested a tournament field that included three NCAA hopefuls/bubble teams.

Lamar senior centerfielder Anthony Moore provided an assortment of key hits (10-for-16, 10 RBI, 3 HR) to go along with slick play in the field – as the 7th-seeded Cardinals came through in the clutch to win the Southland Conference Tournament . (photo courtesy of Lamar)

Lamar faced a tough task in its opening game, against the #2 seed Northwestern (La.) State team that was on a roll over the final weeks of the regular season. Moore batted 2-for-4 in that tight 4-3 win, including a double during the decisive 7th (when the Cardinals scored the game’s final run). He then homered in both wins over McNeese State (10-7, 9-3), batting 6-for-7 in that pair of games to help secure Lamar a spot in the title game (4RBI-4R-SB).

Moore’s home run in the first win over McNeese (his 8th HR of the season) forged a 2-2 tie in the 4th inning and helped spark the comeback victory. One day later, he did his damage earlier with a 2-run long ball over the rightfield fence for a 4-0 Lamar lead in the 1st inning.

Moore homered for the third straight game in the 17-7 title game versus top seed Texas State, batting 2-for-5 with two RBI, a pair of runs scored, a double and a walk. His defense helped set an early tone, with a sliding 1st-inning catch that helped negate a teammate’s error moments earlier. One inning later, after the Bobcats had scored four runs in the top of the 2nd, Moore hit an early 2-run blast fort he second straight day (this time to the opposite field, in left), as Lamar put five runs on the board for a 6-4 lead that they never relinquished.

COPELAND was one of the primary factors in helping Southern Miss jump off the bubble and into an automatic spot for the NCAA Tournament. The 6-4, 210-pound righthander first took the mound for 9-3 opening-game win vs. a #3-seeded Memphis team that had posted several upset wins during the 2010 season. Copeland limited the Tigers to four hits and a pair of walks in the complete-game effort, with four strikeouts and nine groundball outs (including two double plays). He needed only 106 pitches to close out the game, locating 77 of those pitches for strikes while pushing his season record to 10-0.

Southern Mississippi senior righthander Scott Copeland faced only five batters over the minimum during 13.1 scoreless innings at the Conference USA Tournament, including a complete-game win vs. #3 seed Memphis and 4.1 dominating relief innings to hold off the potent #1 seed Rice in the 7-4 title game. The pair of wins made him 11-0 for the season. (photo courtesy of Southern Miss).

Three days later, in the 7-4 title-game win over top seed Rice, Copeland answered the call out of the bullpen to pick up the clinching win for a Southern Miss program that was in danger of missing the NCAAs one year after reaching the College World Series. He closed the game with 4.1 scoreless innings (2BB-3K-15BF) against a Rice offense that had totaled 53 runs in its previous three C-USA Tournament games.

Copeland – who retired 10 of the 15 batters he faced in the title game via groundouts (7) or strikeouts – entered a tense situation in the 5th, with his team clinging to a 5-4 lead, 2-out and two runners aboard. Steven Sulzbaugh had a chance to give Rice the lead, but Copeland blew an 0-2 pitch past him to end the threat.

Over the final 4.0 innings of the championship game, Copeland allowed only a pair of 2-out walks (in the 7th and 8th) and did not permit any runners into scoring position. The pitcher of record located 44 of his 63 pitches for strikes (70%), including the final pitch of the game that produced a groundout to first base.

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 15 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for May 24-30 include (see capsules for each player at bottom of release): Rider jr. 2B A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa.) … Milwaukee sr. 3B Dan Buchholz (Racine, Wis.) ... Saint Louis sr. RHP Bryant Cotton (Omaha, Neb.) … Central Connecticut jr. LF Pat Epps (Waterford, Conn.) … LSU so. 2B Tyler Hanover (Kernersville, N.C.) …St. John’s fr. RHP Kyle Hansen (Glen Cove, N.Y.) …Baylor sr. RHP Willie Kempf (Castroville, Texas) … Minnesota sr. catcher Kyle Knudson (Maple Grove, Minn.) …Florida International so. 3B Jeremy Patton (St. Louis, Mo.) … North Carolina State so. 1B Harold Riggins (Normal, Ill.) … Jacksonville State sr. 2B Bert Smith (Helena, Ala.) … Mercer so. 3B Jacob Tanis (Peachtree City, Ga.) … Grambling jr. LHP Adrian Turner (Kenosha, Wis.) … Virginia Commonwealth sr. 3B Joe Van Meter (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) … and Hawaii so. 2B Kolten Wong (Hilo, Hawaii).

The week-15 honorees included several clutch infielders from both sides of the diamond, with four third basemen and four at second base, plus four righthanded pitchers, a catcher, first baseman, leftfielder, centerfielder and lefthanded pitcher. The 17 selections feature eight seniors, three juniors, five freshmen and the freshman Hansen. The honorees hail from 13 different home states, led by three from Texas and two each from New York and Wisconsin, plus one each from the home states of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL #15
(June 1, 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

A.J. ALBEE (2B … #2)
Rider … Jr.
Ashley, PA
5-11  •  180  •  Bats: Right

3-hole batter who hit 4-for-8 (4RBI-3R-HR-2B-2BB) in pair of wins over top seed Canisius (10-5, 4-2), as the 3rd-seeded Broncs earned NCAA berth with tournament title in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) … closed with strong effort in title game, batting 3-for-5 while factoring into six of team’s runs (4RBI-3R-HR-2B) … doubled and scored twice in opening win over #2 seed Marist (10-7).

DAN BUCHHOLZ (3B … #2)
Milwaukee … Sr.
Racine, WI
6-2  •  220  •  Bats: Right

Potent 3-hole/cleanup batter who capped hot-hitting week by going 6-for-10 with 4 RBI and 4 runs scored, in pair of wins (14-7, 6-3) versus top seed Wright State – as Panthers won Horizon League Tournament to claim automatic NCAA bid … his 3-run HR sparked first win over Huskies, forcing decisive final game … earlier hit 4-for-8 (3RBI-R) in pair of wins over #4 seed Valparaiso.

*SCOTT COPELAND (RHP … #34)
Southen Mississippi … Sr.
White Oak, TX
6-4  •  210

Pushed his season record to 11-0 with pair of wins at Conference USA Tournament, as #2-seeded Golden Eagles ensured their NCAA spot by claiming tourney title … racked up 13.1 scoreless inning in two appearances (4H-2BB-4K-45BF) … had dominating complete game in key 8-2 opening win over #3 seed Memphis (4H-K) before coming out of the bullpen to quiet Rice’s red-hot offense in the title-game showdown with the top-seeded Owls (4.1IP-2BB-3K-15BF).

BRYANT COTTON (RHP … #5)
Saint Louis … Sr. … Omaha, NE … 6-2  •  190

Tossed complete game vs. top seed Charlotte and then closed title game on one day’s rest, leading #5 seed Billikens to Atlantic-10 Tournament title and NCAA bid … knocked off top seed Charlotte in tight 3-2 game (4H-BB-5K-31BF) and foiled the 49ers again in 5-4 finale … entered that game with bases loaded and 2-outs, delivering 1-2 slider for the title-clinching strikeout vs. 3-hole batter Corey Shaylor (a .388 hitter).

PAT EPPS (LF … #32)
Central Connecticut … Jr. … Waterford, CT
6-3  •  225  •  Bats: Right

Cleanup batter who helped #2-seeded Blue Devils rally to win Northeast Conf. Tournament, with pair of victories over top seed Sacred Heart (9-6, 9-3) …hit 4-for-7 with 6 RBI in the wins over the Pioneers (3R-HR-3B), including 2-run blast in the 7th that produced 5-3 lead in the first win.

TYLER HANOVER (2B … #11)
LSU …So.
Kernersville, NC
5-6  •  160  •  Bats: Right

2-hole batter who hit 10-for-19 (5RBI-3R-3 2B-SB) and played error-free up the middle (21 fielding chances), as #8 seed Tigers won SEC Tournament … supplied the 11th-inning single that plated winning run in 4-3 title game vs. Alabama (hit 3-for-5) … helped upset top seed Florida on day-1 (10-6; 2-for-5, R-2B), also batting 2-for-5 in 7-5 win over Vanderbilt (RBI-R-2B) and 3-for-4 during 6-0 shutout of Ole Miss (3RBI-R-2B-SB)

KYLE HANSEN (RHP … #39)
St. John’s … Fr. … Glen Cove, NY … 6-7  •  195

Allowed only one run in 14.2 innings (0.61 ERA) while picking up pair of wins at BIG EAST Tournament, as Red Storm advanced to NCAAs (5H-6BB-13K) … won 3-0 title game vs. #2 seed UConn (6.1IP-2H-5BB-5K), after 3-2 opening win over #5 South Florida (8IP-R-3H-BB-8K) … brother of former SJU dominant pitcher (and current Pittsburgh Pirate) Craig Hansen.

WILLIE KEMPF (RHP … #26)
Baylor … Sr.
Castroville, TX
6-0  •  195

Veteran pitcher who led 6th-seeded Bears to brink of winning Big 12 Conference Championship (while helping team earn NCAA berth) … had relief win in opening game vs. #3 seed Kansas State, after logging 4.1 shutout innings (H-BB-2K-16BF) … drew start four days later in title game vs. #5 seed Texas A&M, putting Bears in prime position for win (7.1IP-R-5H-5K-26BF), but A&M won 5-3 in 10 … his combined stats at the Big 12 tourney included 0.77 ERA, 6H-BB-7K-42BF-11.2IP).

KYLE KNUDSON (C … #6)
Minnnesota … Sr. … Maple Grove, MN
6-3  •  205  •  Bats: Right

Cleanup batter who drove in six runs, as Gophers lived up to their top seed in winning Big Ten Tournament … played lead role in 10-8 opening win over Indiana (3-for-5, 3RBI-R) … singled and scored tying run in 8th inning vs. #2 Michigan (4-3 win in 11; also 2H, R) … added a double and pair of RBI in final win over Iowa (15-4).

ANTHONY MOORE (CF … #42)
Lamar … Sr.
Cedar Hill, TX
5-11  •  195  •  Bats: Left

Provided key production from the 6-hole, combining clutch hitting (10-for-16, 10 RBI, 6R, 2 2B, BB), timely power (3 HR) and slick fielding to lead 7th-seeded Lamar to the Southland Conference Tournament title and an automatic bid into the NCAAs … helped knock off #2 seed Northwestern (La.) St. on opening day (4-3; 2-for-4), including a 7th-inn. double as team scored game’s final run … homered for third straight game, as Cardinals handed top seed Texas State a 17-7 loss in title game (2-for-5, 2RBI-2R-2B-BB).

JEREMY PATTON (3B … #22)
Florida International … So.
St. Louis, MO
6-0  •  190  •  Bats: Left

Cleanup batter for surging team that took itself off the NCAA bubble (and into the field) by winning the Sun Belt Tourmanent, as #4 seed … hit 12-for-23 (.522) in six tournament games, with 4 HR-10RBI-8R-4 2B-7BB-SB while amassing 1.760 OPS (.633 on-base plus 1.127 slugging pct.) … led team to five straight wins (after opening loss), including two key victories over top seed Florida Atlantic (18-16/11-9; combined 4-for-8, 4BB-4RBI-3R-2HR) and the 14-10 title game vs. Troy (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2R, HR, 2B, BB).

HAROLD RIGGINS (1B … #25)
North Carolina State … So. … Normal, IL
6-3  •  230  •  Bats: Right

5-hole hitter who helped vault #7 seed Wolfpack into NCAAs, with runner-up finish at ACC Tournament … hit 9-for-16 (.563)  vs. four of nation’s top teams (5RBI-4R-2HR-3B-2B-2BB-HBP) … played key role in 13-8 opening win over #2 seed Clemson (2-4, 2RBI-R-3B-HBP) … hit 4-for-5 as ‘Pack fought off elimination with 10-9, 10-inning comeback vs. #6 seed Virginia Tech (RBI-2R-HR-2B-BB) … also had solid games vs. #3 seed Georgia Tech and #5 Florida State (title game; 2-for-3, 2B-BB).

BERT SMITH (2B … #3)
Jacksonville State … Sr.
Helena, AL
5-9  •  160  •  Bats: Right

2-hole hitter who went 5-for-9 with 5 RBI in pair of close wins over top seed Tennessee Tech (9-7, 10-8), helping win Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and punching ticket to the NCAAs … his other stats in those two key wins included a pair of doubles, two stolen bases, a run scored and a sacrifice bunt … also helped beat preseason favorite Eastern Illinois (7-5; 2-for-5, RBI), as Gamecocks went undefeated in their run to the title.

JACOB TANIS (3B … #31)
Mercer … So.
Peachtree City, GA
6-1  •  190  •  Bats: Right

3-hole hitter who rapped out four extra-base hits (2HR-3B-2B) as part of his 6-for-14 week during the Atlantic Sun Tournament, as the #2 seed Bears won their first conference title since ’83 and secured a spot in the NCAAs (his other tourney stats included 3RBI-6R-2BB-HBP-2SB) … led team to sweep of its four games, with pair of wins over #3 East Tennessee (10-7, 3-1 final) and #5 Jacksonville (10-1, 7-3) … hit solo HR in tight tournament-clinching win over ETSU.

ADRIAN TURNER (LHP … #20)
Grambling … Jr.
Kenosha, WI
6-1  •  205

Talented southpaw who picked up pair of wins for #6-seeded squad that won Southwestern Athletic Conf. Tournament to earn NCAA berth … won 8-4 opening game vs. #3 seed Mississippi Valley St. (5IP-2R-5H-4BB-3K) and then went the distance in 15-2 title game vs. #5 Alcorn State (7H-BB-7K).

JOE VAN METER (3B … #4)
Virginia Commonwealth … Sr./Jr.
Oyster Bay, NY
6-2  •  195  •  Bats: Right

3-hole hitter whose 12th-inning HR provided winning margin in Colonial Ath. Association Tournament final vs. #4 seed UNC Wilmington (7-5) … the #3 seed Rams had quickly rebounded from 10-0 loss to UNC-W by winning the rematch to earn NCAA bid … hit 8-for-17 in the tournament (6RBI-4R-HR-3B-2B-2BB), including 4-for-5 in 7-4 opener vs. #2 seed Georgia State (4RBI-3B-2B).

KOLTEN WONG (2B … #14)
Hawaii … So. … Hilo, HI
5-9  •  190  •  Bats: Left

Leadoff batter who used the long ball and steady on-base efforts to help 4th-seeded Rainbows win Western Athletic Conference Tournament and earn trip to NCAAs … his late-game heroics avoided opening loss to Louisiana Tech, with 8th-inning, 2-out/2-run blast that ultimately forced extra innings before winning game with another 2-out/2-run HR in the 10th (8-7) … played lead role in pair of wins (11-3/9-6 title game) over top seed Fresno State (3-for-5, 4BB-3RBI-2R-HR-2B-SF).

* – Lamar’s Moore is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Southern Mississippi’s Copeland 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)