CB360 Primetime Performers – Week-9 (full release)

April 17, 2012
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North Carolina State freshman leadoff hitter/third baseman Trea Turner (Lake Worth, Fla.) and Oregon senior righthander Alex Keudell (Portland, Ore.) headlining the CB360 Primetime Performers for the first second week of April in 2012, as presented by CollegeBaseball360.com. They are joined by 12 others in comprising the week-9 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll, with Turner and Keudell the top honorees as the respective CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Primetime Pitcher of the Week. front-page photo courtesy of Oregon

(Note that this release now includes headshots, action photos and player info. for all 14 honorees – see below).

Previous CB360 Primetime Performers (2012):
Week-1 … Week-2 … Week-3 … Week-4 … Week-5 … Week-6 … Week-7 … Week-8

The Primetime Performer awards program – also utilized on affiliate sites CollegeSports360.com, CollegeSoccer360.com and CollegeFencing360.com – seeks to recognize players based on more than simple raw stats, instead taking into account quality of opponent, contribution to team success and various situational factors (such as clutch play, all-around performance, leadership, adversity overcome, etc.).

In addition to Keudell, the 14 Primetime honorees for week-9 include seven other righthanded pitchers: Virginia Tech senior Andrew Aizenstadt (Norwell, Mass.) … Southeastern Louisiana freshman Andro Cutura (Pearl River, La.) … Oklahoma jr./so. Damien Magnifico (Mesquite, Texas) … Georgia senior Michael Palazzone (Marietta, Ga.) … Southern Mississippi junior Andrew Pierce (Stinger, Miss.) … UC Irvine sophomore Andrew Thurman (Orange, Calif.) … and Florida Gulf Coast freshman Zack Tillery (Naples, Fla.), who also doubled as a third baseman for FGCU and had been a reliever prior to making his first start during the past week.

The other Primetime week-9 honorees include Oklahoma State junior lefthander Andrew Heaney (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Florida junior LHP/1B Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) – along with UCLA junior centerfielder Beau Amaral (Huntington Beach, Fla.) … Seton Hall freshman first baseman Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) … and D-2 Francis Marion junior first baseman Stephen Tarkenton (Newnan, Ga.).

Trea Turner (NC State)

Turner – the nation’s leader in stolen bases (38-of-39) – swiped nine bags during a key 3-1 win for the Wolfpack, which beat cb360 #42 Elon midweek (14-2) and then won an ACC series at #33 Clemson (3-1, 6-3, 6-8). Turner’s week included reaching base 14 times (8-for-16, 4 BB) while factoring into 11 of his team’s runs (6RBI-5R) and collecting 12 total bases (3B, 2 2B). He played error-free at the hot corner and tied the ACC record for stolen bases in a game, with five in the opener at Clemson.

In addition to his success on the basepaths, Turner delivered huge hit in that series opener, stroking 2-out/2-run double in the 7th inning (for the tying and go-ahead runs). Earlier in the week, he hit 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, a triple, double and a pair of stolen bases in the win over Elon. Turner already owns the NC State record for stolen bases in a season (previous record was 30) and is 25 shy of the ACC season record (63, by UNC’s Brian Roberts in 1998). He also now stands more that halfway to breaking the NC State record for career stolen bases (73).

Alex Keudell (Oregon)

Keudell faced a big challenge in the key Pac-12 series at Stanford, where he was opposed by Marc Appel – considered by many to be the top pitching prospect for the 2012 Major League draft. While matching Appel by going the full nine innings, Keudell allowed only one run on five hits and no walks whiles striking out seven. The Ducks went on to win 4-2 in 12 innings and ultimately took the series to earn a share of the Pac-12 lead.

He also pitched an inning of relief in a 4-1 midweek win over San Francisco (allowed an unearned run). Keudell has won his past four starts, with an eye-popping 0.28 ERA in that span (2R, 1 ER, 32 IP). He has fashioned a 1.92 season ERA, with a 5-3 record, 37 strikeouts, 11 walks and a .230 opponent batting average in 65.2 innings.

The 14 honorees include three seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen – with three hailing from Florida hometowns, two each from California and Georgia, and one each from: Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas.

The 14 week-9 Primetime Performer honorees are listed below – with short bio. capsules, headshots and action photos for all 14 honorees.

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 success and potential 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.

CB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2012; #9)
(April 9-15, 2012 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
             “It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

ANDREW AIZENSTADT
Virginia Tech … RHP … Sr.
Norwell, MA … #18 

Battled opposite Miami’s Steven Ewing for eight innings, handing off 1-0 lead as Hokies went on to win 3-2 and claim series from streaking ‘Canes (cb360 #8) … allowed only one ball out of the infield until the 6th, facing only 17 batters thru the 5th … all but two of his 24 outs came via groundball outs (15) or strikeouts (7), plus an infield popup and only a single flyout (one of four balls that left the infield) … help Miami to three hits and a pair of walks … picked clutch time for his season-bests in Ks and innings (8-plus) … did not allow a runner to reach third base.

BEAU AMARAL
UCLA … CF … Jr. … Huntington Beach, CA
leadoff … bats: L … #25 

Hit .500 for the week (9-for-18) – including a rare two-triple game – in key week for Bruins that included 4-2 win over #15 Cal State Fullerton and huge Pac-12 showdown series win at #10 Arizona (3-4, 15-3, 6-2) … collected 14 total bases (2B) during the week, while factoring into 13 of his team’s runs (6RBI-7R) … extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games (matching the best at UCLA since 205(, after hitting safely in each game … hit 2-for-3 (R) in win over Fullerton, then had the 2-triple game to help square series at Arizona (4-6, 4RBI-4R) … added 2-for-5 game in series finale, highlighted by game-tying double in 5th (he came around to score the go-ahead run) … his .346 season batting average includes a .431 mark in Pac-12 play.

SAL ANNUNZIATA
Seton Hall … 1B … Fr. … Bronx, NY
 6-hole … bats: R … #11 

Played key role in handing Louisville (cb360 #30) its first home series loss in BIG EAST play since 2009 (3-2, 7-12, 9-4) … hit 5-for-11 in Louisville series while reaching base eight times from middle of the order (BB, 2HBP), with nine total bases (HR-2B) to go along with 3RBI-3R … reached four times in series-opening win over Cards (2-2, BB-HBP-R-2B) … his first home run of season helped deliver series-deciding win (2-5, 2R) … part of SHU squad that outhit BIG EAST’s top offensive team (38-28) … also helped Pirates beat Wagner in midweek (9-1) while pushing Ivy League favorite Princeton to 10 innings (5-4 loss).

ANDRO CUTURA
Southeastern Louisiana … RHP … Fr.
Pearl River, LA … #3 

Rookie hurler who delivered in a big way vs. Southland Conference favorite Texas State (cb360 #37), going the distance in series-opening win (10-1, with Lions going on to take the series) … faced only 32 batters (5 over the min.), with five hits, two walks and three strikeouts (he rolled up a double play and erased another runner on a pickoff – both in the 1st inning).

ANDREW HEANEY
Oklahoma State … LHP … Jr.
Oklahoma City, OK … #8

Pushed his season strikeout total to 85 (2nd-most in the nation) after totaling 9 Ks in pressure-packed game vs. cb360 #23 Texas – going nine innings in 1-1 game that Cowboys won in 13 (1-1) … scattered six hits and walked only one, while facing 34 batters … shut out the Longhorns from the 4th-9th innings … owns a 2.14 season ERA and equally-impressive .200 batting avg., with more innings pitches (67.1) than combined hits (49) and walks (14) allowed (6-to-1 K-t0-walk ratio) … averaging 11.4 Ks per 9 IP.

BRIAN JOHNSON
Florida … LHP/1B … Jr.
Cocoa Beach, FL … bats: L … #35 

Two-way talent who helped complete sweep of 3-game season series vs. rival Florida State (cb360 #1) – followed by SEC series win at upstart Tennessee (3-1, 4-5, 8-1), picking up clutch win as game-3 starter … hit .471 during the week (8-17) with team-high 7 RBI … went 2-for-5 with solo home run in win over Seminoles, at FSU’s sold-out Dick Howser Stadium … that game completed Florida’s first sweep of regular-season series vs. FSU since 1958 (also Gators’ first win over #1 team since 2007) … hit 6-for-12 in series at Tennessee and accounted for nearly half of his team’s RBI (6 of 13) … was 2-for-4 with key game-tying single in the 4th during tight opener … added 3-for-5 in gm-2 (leadoff HR in 2nd, RBI 2B in 3rd) … helped deliver series-deciding win in gm-3, after logging six shutout innings (6H-BB-4K) and smacking 3-run 2B in the 1st … his season totals include a 3.88 ERA, 5-1 record and 39 Ks in 48.2 IP – plus a .315 batting avg. (23RBI-11R-4HR-6 2B).

*ALEX KEUDELL
Oregon … RHP … Sr.
Portland, OR … #47 

Faced a big challenge in the key Pac-12 series at Stanford, where he was opposed by Marc Appel – considered by many to be the top pitching prospect for the 2012 Major League draft … while matching Appel by going the full nine innings, he allowed only one run on five hits and no walks whiles striking out seven (season-high) … the Ducks went on to win 4-2 in 12 innings and ultimately took the series to earn a share of the Pac-12 lead … also pitched inning of relief in 4-1 midweek win over San Francisco (allowed unearned run) … has won his past four starts, with an eye-popping 0.28 ERA in that span (2R, 1 ER, 32 IP) … has fashioned a 1.92 season ERA, with a 5-3 record, 37 strikeouts, 11 walks and a .230 opponent batting average in 65.2 innings.

DAMIEN MAGNIFICO
Oklahoma … RHP … Jr./So.
Mesquite, TX … #32 

Took the mound midweek with his team needing a signature win and that’s what he delivered, coming one out short of complete game as Sooners topped cb360 #12 Arkansas (4-0) … held Razorbacks to three hits and three walks, with 4 Ks in only his second start of the season … was clocked at 100 mph 22 times in the game and logged 14 pitches or fewer in every inning but the 8th (20) … needed only five pitches in the 2nd inning, eight in the 3rd and nine in the 7th … has a 3.16 season ERA, in 14 total appearances … JC transfer from Howard College … was a 5th-round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2009.

MICHAEL PALAZZONE
Georgia … RHP … Sr.
Marietta, GA … #44 

Stepped into game-1 starting role and responded with complete-game effort, allowing only two earned runs and keeping his team in position for late rally that beat cb360 #19 Mississippi (8-4) … did not walk a batter while scattering nine hits and striking out eight, opposite Ole Miss ace Bobby Wahl … his clutch win set stage for UGa winning key SEC series (6-3, 3-8) … has nearly a 5-to-1 season strikeout-to-walk ratio (39/8).

ANDREW PIERCE
Southern Mississippi … RHP … Jr.
Stringer, MS … #12 

Locked in rare stalemate vs. cb360 #17 Central Florida, not allowing a run through the first nine innings – in rare 0-0 battle that went to extra-innings (Southern Miss won 1-0 in the 14th) … posted his third double-digit strikeouts game of the season (10) while allowing only five hits and three walks, as the zeroes continued to mount on the scoreboard …  19 of his outs came via Ks or groundballs (including a pair of double plays) … worked out of  jam in the 5th (two runners on) and later had huge bases-loaded strikeout of 3-hole hitter D.J. Hicks in the 8th … had streaks of eight straight and nine straight batters retired during the tense outing.

STEPHEN TARKENTON
Francis Marion … 1B … Jr.
Newnan, GA … 5-hole … bats: R … #9 

Delivered clutch 2-run single in 7th inning for eventual winning run, as Patriots (#20 in D-2) upset #13 South Carolina, 5-4 – in the first game at FMU’s new Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium (commemorated with the game vs. the 2-time defending D-I champs) … reached base three times in that historic game (2-for-3, BB) … added four more hits and five RBI in key series sweep of  Lander (#30 in D-2), as Patriots extended their season record to 30-13 … distant relative of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

ANDREW THURMAN
UC Irvine … RHP … So.
Orange, CA … #30 

Faced only 25 batters (two over the minimum) in eight-plus strong innings, leading Irvine to much-needed quality win in Big West series opener vs cb360 #15 Cal State Fullerton … overcame a 3rd-inning error and ultimately took no-hit bid into the 9th (broken up by Austin Kingsolver’s infield single) … added a walk in the 9th and left the game to the bullpen, finishing with one run allowed in the lone hit and only one walk , with eight strikeouts in the career-long outing.

ZACK TILLERY 
Florida Gulf Coast … RHP/3B … Fr.
Naples, FL … #10 

Roset to the occasion in his first college start, allowing only one run in seven innings to lead 4-2 win over cb360 #8 Miami – part of FGCU’s impressive midweek run in April that also has included wins over Florid State and Florida Atlantic … faced only 25 batters while limiting Hurricanes to a pair of hits and no walks … his outing nearly matched his inning total (7.1) from four previous appearances this season … did not allow any hits from the 2nd-7th innings, after allowing early run (retired 18 of 19 batters at one point) … owns a 1.88 season ERA while also serving as a regular at third base.

*TREA TURNER
North Carolina State … 3B … Fr.
Lake Worth, FL … leadoff bats: R … #8 

Added to his nation-leading stolen base total (now 38-of-39) by swiping nine bags during a key 3-1 win for the Wolfpack, which beat cb360 #42 Elon midweek (14-2) and then won an ACC series at #33 Clemson (3-1, 6-3, 6-8) … his busy week included reaching base 14 times (8-for-16, 4 BB) while factoring into 11 of his team’s runs (6RBI-5R) and collecting 12 total bases (3B, 2 2B) … played error-free at the hot corner and tied the ACC record for stolen bases in a game, with five in the opener at Clemson … also delivered huge hit in that series opener, stroking 2-out/2-run double in the 7th inning (for tying and go-ahead runs) … earlier in the week, hit 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, a triple, double and a pair of stolen bases in win over Elon … already owns the NC State record for stolen bases in a season (previous record was 30) and is 25 SBs shy of the ACC season record (63, by UNC’s Brian Roberts in 1998) … also now more that halfway to breaking the NC State record for career stolen bases (73).

* Turner is the CB360 week-9 Primetime Player of the Week while Keudell is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week

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Action photos of all 14 honorees included below (or at top of page); all photos courtesy of the respective schools:

Andrew Aizenstadt (Virginia Tech)

Beau Amaral (UCLA)

Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall)

Andro Cutura (Southeastern Louisiana)

Andrew Heaney (Oklahoma State)

Brian Johnson (Florida)

Damien Magnifico (Oklahoma)

Michael Palazzone (Georgia)

Andrew Pierce (Southern Mississippi)

Stephen Tarkenton (Francis Marion)

Andrew Thurman (UC Irvine)

Zack Tillery (Florida Gulf Coast)

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