College Baseball Postseason Primetime Performers

June 15, 2012
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The past few weeks have been a whirlwind throughout the college baseball landscape, but – before we embark on the 2012 College World Series – CB360 would like to recognize a group of Primetime Performers from the recent Super-Regional round (May 8-11), in addition to listing Primetime Performer Honor Rolls for the previous two weeks of the 2012 postseason (confereence tournaments & NCAA Regionals). front-page photo courtesy of NCAA.com (AP)

Note – Headshots, action photos & player info. on all 12 of the Primetime honorees from the Super-Regional round are included at the bottom of this page … CB360 similarly will be expanding the below Primetime lists for the previous two weeks (Regionals & conf. tournaments) and will have a Primtime list for the 2012 CWS, while ultimately highlighting a short/elite list of top Primetime Performers for the entire 2012 postseason (May 21-June 26).

Selecting honorees from Stony Brook – which a week earlier had become only the third #4 seed ever to win an NCAA Regional (during the 14-year history of the 64-team format) – was a challenge, due to the fact that numerous players stepped up during the Super-Regional series at #7 national seed LSU. Ultimately, we settled on: sophomore 1B/8-hole hitter Kevin Courtney (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), junior CF/leadoff batter Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.) and the gm-1 starter, sophomore RHP Brandon McNitt (Chino Hills, Calif.). Two players that had been tabbed for Primetime honors the previous week – junior 3B/3-hole hitter Willie Carmona and senior RHP ace Tyler Johnson – also turned in impressive efforts during the Super-Regional round.

Kent State – which emerged from a hard-fought, 3-game Super-Regional series at #5 national seed Oregon – is represented by two players: sophomore 2B/2-hole hitter Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.) and the gm-3 starter, sophomore RHP Tyler Skulina (Strongsville, Ohio). The honorees from the two Pac-12 entrants in the CWS share the same last name and a penchant for key hits during the Super-Regional round: Arizona 5th-year senior DH/6-hole hitter Bobby Brown (San Diego, Calif.) and UCLA junior 2B/1B Trevor Brown (Valencia, Calif.), who typically bats in the 5-hole for the Bruins.

Other Primetime honorees for the Super-Regional round include Florida State senior 3B/leadoff batter  Sherman Johnson ( Tampa, Fla.) and three players from the SEC: Arkansas freshman corner outfielder/5-hole hitter Brian Anderson (Edmond, Okla.), Florida junior DH Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.), who also would have been the Gators’ gm-3 starting pitcher, and South Carolina senior lefthanded ace Michael Roth (Greer, S.C.). Baylor senior RHP  Tyler Bremer (Berkeley, Calif.) is the lone honoree from a team that did not advance to the College World Series, after logging nine shutout innings in the decisive third game (the Bears bullpen lost a 1-0 thriller to Arkansas, in the 10th).

In addition to Stony Brook’s Carmona and Johnson, players from four other 2012 CWS teams were among the CB360 Primetime Performers Honor Roll for the Super-Regional round: Kent State pitcher Ryan Bores, Florida pitcher Jonathon Crawford (no-hitter vs. Bethune-Cookman), South Carolina freshman SS/leadoff hitter Joey Pancake, and Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek.

Note – Scroll to bottom of page for headshots, action photos & player info. on all 12 of the Primetime honorees from the Super-Regional round … CB360 similarly will be expanding the below Primetime lists for the previous two weeks (Regionals & conf. tournaments) and will have a Primtime list for the CWS, while ultimately highlighting a short/elite list of top Primetime Performers for the entire 2012 postseason (May 21-June 26).

Previous CB360 Primetime Performers (2012 regular season):
Week-1 … Week-2 … Week-3 … Week-4 … Week-5 … Week-6 … Week-7
Week-8 … Week-9 …Week-10 … Week-11 … Week-12 … Week-13 … Week-14

Postseason Primetime Performer Award Criteria (not based solely on raw stats, but rather …)
• Performed at a high all-around level while making significant contribution to team’s success.
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, key defensive efforts, etc.
• Bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field, from lower-seeded teams, etc.
• 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; #17)
(NCAA Super Regionals; June 8-11, 2012 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
             “It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

Brian Anderson  (Arkansas … RF/LF … Fr. … Edmond, OK … 5-hole … bats: R … #1)
Tyler Bremer  
(Baylor … RHP … Sr. … Berkeley, CA … #33)
Bobby Brown
  (Arizona … DH … 5th-Yr. Sr. … San Diego, CA … 6-hole … bats: L … #37)
Trevor Brown  (UCLA … 2B/1B … Jr. … Valencia, CA … 5-hole … bats: R … #11)
Kevin Courtney  (Stony Brook … 1B … So. … Lindenhurst, NY … 8-hole … bats: L … #25)
Travis Jankowski  
(Stony Brook … CF … Jr. … Lancaster, PA … leadoff … bats: L … #6)
Brian Johnson
  (Florida … DH … Jr. … Cocoa Beach, FL … cleanup … bats: L … #35)
Sherman Johnson  (Florida State … 3B … Sr. … Tampa, FL … leadoff … bats: L … #32)
Brandon McNitt  (Stony Brook … RHP … So. … Chino Hills, CA … #20)
Jimmy Rider  (Kent State … 2B … Sr. … Venetia, PA … 2-hole … bats: R … #1)
Michael Roth  (South Carolina … LHP … Sr. … Greer, SC … #29)
Tyler Skulina  (Kent State … RHP … So. … Strongsville, OH … #31)

Note – Scroll to bottom of page for headshots, action photos & player info. on all 12 of the Primetime honorees from the Super-Regional round … CB360 similarly will be expanding the below Primetime lists for the previous two weeks (Regionals & conf. tournaments) and will have a Primtime list for the CWS, while ultimately highlighting a short/elite list of top Primetime Performers for the entire 2012 postseason (May 21-June 26).

CB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2012; #16)
(NCAA Regionals; June 1-4, 2012)
Jeremy Baltz (St. John’s) … Anthony Bemboom (Creighton) … Ryan Bores (Kent State)
Willie Carmona (Stony Brook) … Stefan Crichton (TCU) … Jonathon Crawford (Florida)
Casey Delgado (Austin Peay) … Trey Holmes (Appalachian State) … Tyler Johnson (Stony Brook)
Tanner Mathis (Mississippi) … Brandon Miller (Samford) … Matt Obeerste (Oklahoma)
Michael Oris (Sam Houston State) … Joey Pancake (South Carolina)
Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) … Ryan Wilkins (NC State)

CB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2012; #15)
(May 21-27, 2012; conference tournaments & final week of regular season)
Judah Akers (Belmont) … Garrett Carey (Oklahoma) … Jake Davies (Georgia Tech)
Mike Gerber (Creighton) … Justin Mackert (The Citadel) … Shawn Marquardt (Miami, Ohio)
Daniel Minor (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) … Alex Pracher (St. Joseph’s)
Brent Pugh (Georgia Southern) … Rob Zastryzny (Missouri)

____________________________________________________

CB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2012; #17)
(NCAA Super Regionals; June 8-11, 2012 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
 

BRIAN ANDERSON
Arkansas … RF/LF … Fr.

Edmond, OK … 5-hole … bats: R … #1

… Delivered pair of huge late-game hits during Super-Regional series at #4 national seed Baylor (1-8, 5-4, 1-0 in 10) – helping Razorbacks advance despite the team totaling only seven runs and 19 hits over the three games … started rally that led to eventual winning run in top of 10th during gm-3, battling to full-count as first batter vs. reliever Dillon Newman before pulling 9th pitch of at-bar down leftfield line for leadoff single (he came around to score on Jake Wise’s 2-out 1B, for only run in that 1-0 thriller) … one day earlier, with Arkansas trailing 4-3 in bottom of the 9th, followed Matt Reynolds’ leadoff walk with 1-out single to center field (on 2-2 pitch from talented closer Max Muncy) and ultimately scored winning run – on second of back-to-back hit batters with bases loaded (one from Muncy, one from Crayton Bare) … has emerged as starting corner outfielder, batting .287 for the season in 43 games played (29 starts, 10 RBI, 2 HR).

TYLER BREMER
Baylor … RHP … Sr.

Berkeley, CA … #33

… Would have been the hero of the Waco Super-Regional – after facing only 31 batters (3H-HB-8K) in nine shutout innings during the decisive gm-3 – but his teammates were unable to score, with Arkansas going on to win 1-0 in the 10th (see Brian Anderson info. above) … dropped his season ERA to 2.61 while needing only 98 pitches over the career-best outing (his first time with 9 IP in a game) … located 67% of his pitches for strikes (66) while needing only 11 or fewer pitches in seven of the nine innings…his other season stats included a 7-1 record in 15 appearances (9 starts; 50K-14BB-2HB in 58.2 IP, 47 H/.222).

BOBBY BROWN
Arizona … DH … 5th-Yr. Sr.
San Diego, CA … 6-hole … bats: L … #37

… Hit 2-for-5 in each game while factoring into six of his team’s runs (4RBI-2R) during pair of Super-Regional wins over visiting St. John’s (7-6 in 10; 7-4) … helped ‘Cats overcome 5-0 deficit in opener, plating team’s first run with single through right side and then playing lead role in winning rally … greeted lefthanded reliever with 1-out RBI single up the middle to force 6-6 tie in bottom of the 10th before scoring the winning run on Trent Gilbert’s single … contributed 2-out, RBI single to right field during team’s 3-run outburst to open gm-2 (later added RBI double to right-center & run scored in the 7th) … enters CWS batting .356 for the season (4th-best on team) with 54 RBI (3rd), plus 4 home runs, 7 triples and 12 doubles (has been safe on all seven of his stolen-base attempts).

TREVOR BROWN
UCLA … 2B/1B … Jr.
Valencia, CA …5-hole … bats: R … #11

… Hit 2-for-4 and had a hand in four of his team’s 10 runs during pair of Super-Regional wins over TCU (6-2 and 4-1) … pulled leadoff single into left (3-1 pitch) and scored on Kevin Kramer’s 2-out single for early 1-1 score in the opener (b-2nd) … later helped Bruins come-from behind in that gm-1, with Frogs leading 2-1 before Bruins scored five in the 6th … had 1st-pitch RBI single and later scored during that decisive rally … had big hit early in gm-2, going with 0-1 pitch for opposite-field triple down rightfield line (went on to score game’s first run, adding his fourth hit of the series later in the game) … batting .328 with  team-high 51 RBI, plus 18 extra-base hits (3HR, 2 triples, 13 doubles).


KEVIN COURTNEY

Stony Brook … 1B … So.
Lindenhurst, NY … 8-hole … bats: L … #25

… Provided bonus production from near the bottom of the order, with several key hits during Super-Regional series at #7 national seed LSU (4-5 in 12, 3-1, 7-2) … his pair of hits in the opening came included a 1-out single to center field (0-1 pitch) in the top of the 2nd, followed moments later by 9-hole hitter Sal Intagliata’s 2-run home run that opened the scoring … later in that game, he completed a huge defensive sequence in the bottom of the 8th that ultimately pushed the game to extra innings (and essentially leading to suspending the completion of the game to Sat.) … LSU trailed 2-1 but was poised for a rally with two runners aboard, before a strikeout/throwout double play and then his lunging catch off a foul ball (he launched his body into the stands in shallow right-field for the highlight-reel play) … even through Stony Brook lost gm-1, that 1-minute stretch of the double play and emotion-building foulout now can be seen as a key juncture in the entire series … went on to play a huge role in the series-tying second game, batting 3-for-3 while factoring into two of his team’s runs – all vs. LSU ace Kevin Gausman (the 4th overall pick of the 2012 MLB draft) … worked to full-count in bottom of the 3rd before driving double into right-center gap and scoring on a single from Intagliata (who also scored, for another early 2-0 lead) … led off bottom of the 5th with home run to right field (on 2-1 pitch; only his 4th HR of season), for 3-0 lead as Seawolves went on to hand Gausman his second defeat of the season (12-2) … also contributed a walk in the series-clinching win … batting .296 fr the season, with 38 RBI, 31 runs scored, 13 doubles and a respectable -1 plate-discipline ratio (24BB+10HBP-35K).

TRAVIS JANKOWSKI
Stony Brook … CF … Jr.

Lancaster, PA … leadoff … bats: L … #6

… Proved his status as one of college baseball’s elite leadoff batters during Super-Regional series at #7 national seed LSU (4-5 in 12, 3-1, 7-2), batting 8-for-18 (.445) during the three games,  with three runs scored and 11 total bases (3B-2B) … helped lead his team to the College World Series, a few days after being selected in the MLB supplemental 1st round by the San Diego Padres (44th overall) … his three hits in the wild opening game included a 2nd-inning triple (moments after Sal Intagliata’s home run had opened the scoring) … nearly ended up being one of the gm-1 heroes in top of 11th during gm-1, after pulling leadoff single through the left side (0-1 pitch) and scoring on a Willie Carmona single for 4-3 lead (LSU went on to tie the game for the 3rd straight inning and play was suspended to the next day) … hit 1-for-4 in the gm-2 win, with his 3rd-inning single to left (1-1 pitch) part of the team’s 2-run sequence that opened the scoring in that tight series-tying battle … closed with 4-for-6 effort and pair of runs scored in decisive third game … opened top of 1st with single into left field (2-2 pitch) before scoring on a Carmona single for yet another early lead … also led off bottom of the 3rd with another hit, this time going the other way for a 1st-pitch double into the right-center gap (later scored on Maxx Tissenbaum’s 2-out double, as part of 3-run surge for 4-1 lead) … stellar defensive centerfielder (.994 fielding pct., only one error w/ pair of fielding assists) who ranks among national leaders in several offensive categories, as a .422 batter with 78 runs scored, 46 RBI, 34 extra-base hits (5HR, 11 triples, 18 doubles), a 1.121 OPS (.485 on-base plus .636 slugging) and 36 stolen bases on 42 attempts.

BRIAN JOHNSON
Florida … DH … Jr.
Cocoa Beach, FL … cleanup … bats: L … #35

… Elite 2-way talent and 1st-round MLB draft pick (selected by the Red Sox, as a pitcher) who reached base five teams (highlighted by a pair of key hits) during pair of Super-Regional wins over North Carolina State (7-1; 9-8 in 10 inn.) … helped post opening win over the ‘Pack (1-for-2, BB-HBP) before having a hand in two of the Gator runs during wild game-2 … played role in Florida’s 4-run top of the 4th, after long rain delay, following Preston Tucker’s leadoff home run and Mike Zunino’s double with his own two-bagger (to RF on 1st-pitch; later scored) … later in the game, which saw numerous lead changes in the final innings, NC State led 5-4 and was five outs from victory – but his 1-out blast over the rightfield fence tied the game (5-5) and sparked the Gators on to the extra-inning win … would have started on the mound if there had been a gm-3 in the Super-Regional but now slated to start the CWS opener vs. 2-time defending NCAA champion South Carolina … batting .314 with 41 RBI, 6 HR and 13 doubles, plu a 3.56 ERA and 8-4 record in 16 pitching starts (68K-15BB-5HB, 86IP, 79H/.242 opp. avg.).

SHERMAN JOHNSON
Florida State … 3B … Sr.
Tampa, FL … leadoff … bats: L … #32

… Led the way from leadoff spot – batting 5-for-9, reaching base eight times (2BB-HBP) and factoring into 11 of his team’s runs (6RBI-6R-HR), as Seminoles tied the NCAA record for runs in a Super-Regional series, doing so in only two games (17-1 and 18-7, vs. Stanford) … hit 2-for-3 (RBI-4H) with a pair of walks in opening win (also reached on a hit-by-pitch) … jumped on 1-0 pitch for 3-run blast in gm-2, as part of 4-run top of the 2nd to give FSU 6-0 lead … ended up batting 3-for-6 (5RBI-2R) in win that sent Seminoles back to the College World Series … batting .274 with 65 bases-on-balls (2nd-most in nation), plus 8 HBPs, for a .444 on-base pct. … has scored 59 runs (2nd on team) with 19 extra-base hits (4HR, 15 doubles) … owns an impressive +33 season plate-discipline ratio (65BB+8HBP-40K).

BRANDON McNITT
Stony Brook … RHP … So.

Chino Hills, CA … #20

… Was up to the game-1 challenge in Super-Regional series at #7 national seed LSU, taking the mound in place of ace Tyler Johnson (who had won both of his starter in Regional at Miami) … pitched into the 8th inning of that high-pressure game (in front of nearly 10,000 fans at famed Alex Box Stadium), logging six shutout innings and then allowing an unearned run in the 7th … faced only 25 batters in the 7-plus innings (3H-2BB-3H) while locating 62 of his 93 pitches for strikes … his clutch performance helped spark the Seawolves to near-win in the opener (lost 5-4 in 12, after bullpen failed to close leads in the 9th, 10th & 11th) and ultimate series win (3-1, 7-2) to earn CWS berth … combined with Johnson & Frankie Vanderka as starting trip that allowed only two earned runs (two unearned, plus 9H) spanning 25 innings during the series at LSU … enters CWS with 2.50 ERA and 8-3 record (61K-24BB-6HB in 100.2 IP, 90H/.236 opp. avg.).

JIMMY RIDER
Kent State … 2B … Sr.
Venetia, PA … 2-hole … bats: R … #1

… Mid-American Conference all-time leader in career hits (325) who delivered four timely hits during low-scoring Super-Regional series (7-6, 2-3, 3-2) at #5 national seed Oregon, adding three key RBI and three runs scored as Kent State secured the first College World Series appearance in the program’s history … sent 1-0 pitch into left field and came around to score for 2-0 lead in 3rd inning of opener … later helped stretch lead to 5-1 in the 5th, with 1st-pitch/1-out RBI double to right-center and another run scored … the Golden Flashes totaled only six hits in gm-2 loss before bouncing back in gm-3, reversing the 3-2 final … reached base three times in the decisive third game (2-for-4, BB), starting with a 1-out single to center field (0-1 pitch) and run scored for a 1-0 lead in bottom of the 1st … two hours later, he battled All-America closer Jimmie Sherfy to a full-count before pulling tricky fly ball into sun-drenched left field – with ball falling in for double that scored Derek Toadvine for dramatic end to the Super-Regional … batting .364 with triple-digit hits (103) and a team-best 66 runs scored, plus 56 RBI, 35 extra-base hits (29 doubles, triple, 5 HR) and nearly as many free-passes (33BB+3HBP) as strikeouts (39).

MICHAEL ROTH
South Carolina … LHP … Sr.
Greer, SC … #29

… Won the final home game of his college career, fashioning 7.2 shutout innings (6H-2BB-HB-3K) while leading the Gamecocks to opening-game win (5-0) in Super-Regional series vs. surging Oklahoma … enters the 2012 CWS with a 2.50 season ERA and 7-1 record, plus 79K-37BB-8HB in 115 innings (89 H, .215 opp. batting) … has won all six of his career decisions during NCAA Tournament play while owning a 1.17 career ERA in the College World Series (2010 & ’11 national champs) … repeated as a CoSIDA first team Academic All-American (3.83 cumulative GPA, as an international business & marketing major).


TYLER SKULINA
Kent State … RHP … So.

Strongsville, OH … #31

… Rose to the occasion in decisive third game of Super-Regional at Oregon, logging 5.2 shutout innings while facing only 22 batters (2H-3BB-2HB-4K), helping stake his team to 2-0 lead and eventual 3-2 win in the bottom of the 9th … enters CWS as part of quality 3-man rotation (along with ace David Starn & Ryan Bores), sporting a 3.63 season ERA and 11-2 record (97K-41BB-16HB in 101.1 IP, 91H/.235 opp. avg.).

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Photos below (and above) courtesy of the respective schools, NCAA.com, the Associated Press and local media outlets.

Brian Anderson (Arkansas)

Tyler Bremer (Baylor)

Bobby Brown (Arizona)

Trevor Brown (UCLA)

Kevin Courtney (Stony Brook)

Travis Jankowski (Stony Brook)

Brian Johnson (Florida)

Sherman Johnson (Florida State)

Brandon McNitt (Stony Brook)

Jimmy Rider (Kent State)

 

Michael Roth (South Carolina)

Tyler Skulina (Kent State)

 

 

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