College Baseball 360 Primetime Performers #11 (final release)

May 1, 2012
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Vanderbilt junior centerfielder Connor Harrell  (Houston, Texas) and Cornell freshman closer Kellen Urbon  (San Diego, Calif.) are the leading honorees among the CB360 Primetime Performers for the final full week of April in 2012, as presented by CollegeBaseball360.com. They are joined by 16 others in comprising the week-11 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll (full list at bottom of page), with Harrell and Urbon the top honorees as the respective CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Primetime Pitcher of the Week. front-page photo courtesy of Cornell

(Headshots, action shots and player info. included below for all of the week-11 Primetime honorees)

Previous CB360 Primetime Performers (2012):
Week-1 … Week-2 … Week-3 … Week-4 … Week-5 … Week-6 … Week-7 … Week-8 … Week-9 … Week-10

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.).

Kellen Urbon (Cornell)

URBON came through with Cornell’s season on the line in the finale of a 4-game series vs. Ivy League favorite Princeton, which had won the first three games vs. the Big Red (gms 1-2 at Cornell, 3-4 at Princeton). Despite previously averaging only 1.2 innings per outing this season, the rookie closer extended to 6.1 innings for easily his longest outing of the season – with the Big Red winning in the 12th, thanks to a Ben Swinford home run in the top of that inning.

Making his first appearance of the series – and with his team in danger of choking away the Ivy League Gehrig Division title – Urbon yielded only an unearned run in his long-relief appearance, as the Big Red (picked to finish last) won an outright Gehrig Division title for only the second time. The win also allowed Cornell to earn the host position for the upcoming best-of-3 Ivy League championship series, May 5-6 vs. Rolfe Division champ Dartmouth (with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid).

Urbon struck out five Princeton batters while allowing three hits and a pair of walks in the 6.1 pressure-packed innings (he was on the mound longer than starter Brian McAfree). His 0.59 season ERA would rank second all-time in the Cornell record books and includes a scoreless inning earlier in the week to close out a 9-5 win over Binghamton. Urbon’s season stats include nine saves and a lowly .170 opponent batting average.

Connor Harrell (Vanderbilt)

HARRELL played a lead role during a 3-1 week for a Vanderbilt team that steadily is creeping back to .500 and a potential return to the NCAA Tournament. In addition to playing his usual stellar defense in center field, Harrell provided consistent and clutch production from the bottom half of the lineup – as the Commodores picked up a solid midweek win at Middle Tennessee (8-4) before taking the series from cb360 #3 Kentucky (2-5, 4-3, 6-1).

His .500 batting during the week (8-for-16) included 17 total bases (2 HR, 3B, 2B) while factoring into six of his team’s runs (4RBI-4R-2HR) and even adding a stolen base. Both of his hits in game-2 vs. Kentucky (2-3, RBI-R) came in key 2-out situations while his 8th-inning grand slam broke open the tight series finale.

The week-11 Primetime Performers include 10 other position players: Jacksonville (Ala.) State sr. third baseman Sam Eberle (Chattanooga, Tenn.) … Arkansas so. first baseman Dominic Ficociello (Fullerton, Calif.) … Hofstra sr. catcher Kevin Flynn (Morristown, N.J.) … Georgia Tech so. shortstop Mott Hyde (Calhoun, Ga.) … Wichita State 5th-yr-.sr. corner outfielder  Don Lambert (St. Louis, Mo.) … Stanford jr. LF/RHP Stephen Piscotty (Pleasanton, Calif.) … Texas A&M so. catcher Troy Stein (Castroville, Texas) … Virgina sr. 2B/C Keith Werman (Vienna, Va.) … Coastal Carolina sr. corner infielder  Rich Wittten (Danville, Ky.) … and Louisville so. 3B/LF Ty Young (Coatesville, Pa.).

Six pitchers join Urbon on the week-11 Primetime Honor Roll: Michigan State so. RHP David Garner (Niles, Mich.) … Memphis 5th-yr.-sr. RHP Chase Joiner (Hopkinsville, Ky.) … Oklahoma state sr. LHP Kyle Ottoson (Greeley, Colo.) … Texas-San Antonio fr.RHP Jordan Pacheco (Victoria, Texas) … Tulane jr. RHP Andrew Reeves (Baton Rouge, La.) … Mississippi State jr. RHP Chris Stratton (Tupelo, Miss.).

The 18 honorees include a pair of fifth-year seniors, plus five seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen. They include three players from California hometowns and three more from Texas, plus two from Kentucky and one each from: Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.

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; #11)
(April 23-29, 2012 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)

             “It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

Sam Eberle  (Jacksonville (AL) State … 3B … Sr. … Chattanooga, TN … 3-hole … bats: R … #20)
Dominic Ficociello  (Arkansas … 1B … So. … Fullerton, CA … 3-hole … bats: switch … #25)
Kevin Flynn  (Hofstra … C … Sr. … Morristown, NJ … 6-hole … bats: R … #11)
David Garner  (Michigan State … RHP … So. … Niles, MI … #16)
* Connor Harrell  (Vanderbilt … CF … Jr. … Houston, TX … 6/7/8/9-hole … bats: R … #20)
Mott Hyde  (Georgia Tech … SS … So. …  Calhoun, GA … 9/7-hole … bats: R … #3)
Chase Joiner  (Memphis … RHP … 5th-Yr.-Sr. … Hopkinsville, KY … #5)
Don Lambert  (Wichita State … RF/LF … 5th-Yr.-Sr … St. Louis, MO … 3/6-hole … bats: L … #3)
Kyle Ottoson  (Oklahoma State … LHP … Sr. … Greeley, CO … #36)
Jordan Pacheco  (UTSA (Texas-San Antonio) … RHP … Fr. … Victoria, TX … #40)
Stephen Piscotty  (Stanford … LF/RHP … Jr. … Pleasanton, CA … 3-hole … bats: R … #25)
Andrew Reeves  (Tulane … RHP … Jr. … Baton Rouge, LA … #19)
Troy Stein  (Texas A&M … C … So. … Castroville, TX … 7-hole … bats: R … #6)
Chris Stratton  (Mississippi State … RHP … Jr. … Tupelo, MS … #28)
* Kellen Urbon  (Cornell … RHP … Fr. … San Diego, CA … #13)
Keith Werman  (Virginia …. 2B/C … Sr. .. Vienna, VA … 9-hole … bats: L … #2)
Rich Witten  (Coastal Carolina … 3B/1B … Sr. … Danville, KY … 5-hole … bats: R … #21)
Ty Young  (Louisville … 3B/LF … So. … Coastesville, PA … cleanup … bats: L … #30)

* Harrell is the Primetime Player of the Week and Urbon the Primetime Pitcher of the Week

SAM EBERLE
Jacksonville (AL) State … 3B … Sr.
Chattanooga, TN … 3-hole … bats: R … #20

Valuable 3-hole hitter who played key role in 3-game set at Ohio Valley favorite Austin Peay (2-5, 17-2, 8-2) – as JSU won an OVC series for the 8th straight time (dating back to 2011) while snapping the Governors’ streak of 14 straight non-losing OVC series … the weekend’s results left Austin Peay (12-5) with a narrow lead on Jacksonville State (12-6) atop the OVC (a 1-bid league for the NCAAs) … hit 5-for-12 during the showdown series while reaching bases eight times (3 BB), factoring into 11 of his team’s runs (6RBI-6R-HR), striking out only once and playing error-free at  the hot corner (in 10 fielding chances) … had one of his team’s three hits, and scored a run, in series opener … his strong day in game-2 (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2B) helped set the table for cleanup batter Ben Waltrip’s 7-RBI, 3-HR day … launched a grand slam in the series-deciding third game (2 BB) … leads team with .353 batting avg. and 33 runs scored, along with six home runs and steady plate discipline (23 BB, 4 HBP, only 15 Ks).

DOMINIC FICOCIELLO
Arkansas … 1B … So.

Fullerton, CA … 3-hole … bats: switch … #25

Delivered several timely offensive plays, as Razorbacks picked up key series win at cb360 #2 Florida (2-3, 5-1, 3-1 in 10) …  reached  base twice in tight opener (1-for-3, HBP) … came through with early 2-out RBI single in second game, then singled and scored in decisive 4-run top of the 5th … stroked 2-out double and scored in 1st – proving to be valuable run in game that was 1-1 thru 9 … added a great hustle play in 10th, beating out double-play relay to plate insurance run … leads team in batting avg. (.348) and RBI (31) … ended Florida series with .432 batting over past 10 games … also helped beat Oral Roberts in 6-1 midweek game (BB-HBP).s …

KEVIN FLYNN
Hofstra … C … Sr.

Morristown, NJ … 6-hole … bats: R … #11

Hit 7-for-11 (.636) in three valuable road wins over fellow Colonial Athletic Association contender Delaware (16-1, 4-0, 10-9) … reached base 11 times in the series (4 BB) and factored into eight of his team’s runs (3RBI-5R), adding three doubles and a stolen base – with an eye-popping 1.642 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in the series … went 3-for-5 in blowout opening win (RBI-3R-2B), then reached base three times in gm-2 (2-3, BB) … his strong closing game (2-3, 2RBI-2R-2 2B-2BB) helped edge the Blue Hens in series finale – highlight by 2-run/2-out/2-strike RBI double that provided the final 10-9 margin (in 8th) … also hit 4-for-4 in 19-6 midweek win over New York Tech (RBI-2R-BB-SB) … batting .372 with  13 doubles, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

DAVID GARNER
Michigan State … RHP … So.
Niles, MI … #16

Turned in top outing of his career for shutout victory at cb360 #9 Purdue (5-0), striking out seven while facing only 32 (5 hits, no walks) vs. Boilermakers team that had gone 34-6 over its first 40 games while ranking 3rd in the nation with a .326 batting avg. and 15th in scoring (7.4 runs per 9 inn.) … handed Purdue its first shutout of the season, after yielding only two hits over final four innings … posted early-season win over Baylor team that also entered May with single-digit losses (38-8) … key member of strong all-around MSU pitching staff that has compiled a 2.87 team ERA … has totaled 50 strikeouts and only 20 walks, in 50.1 innings.xxxx

* CONNOR HARRELL
Vanderbilt … CF … Jr.

Houston, TX … 6/7/8/9-hole … bats: R … #20

Played lead role during 3-1 week for a Vanderbilt team that steadily is creeping back to .500 and a potential return to the NCAA Tournamen … played his usual stellar defense in center field while providing consistent and clutch production from the bottom half of the lineup – as Commodores picked up a solid midweek win at Middle Tennessee (8-4) before taking series from visiting cb360 #3 Kentucky (2-5, 4-3, 6-1) … his .500 batting during week (8-for-16) included 17 total bases (2 HR, 3B, 2B) while factoring into six of his team’s runs (4RBI-4R-2HR) and even adding a stolen base … bBth of his hits in game-2 vs. Kentucky (2-for-3, RBI-R) came in key 2-out situations, while his 8th-inning grand slam broke open the tight series finale.

MOTT HYDE
Georgia Tech … SS … So.

Calhoun, GA … 9/7-hole … bats: R … #3

Homered three times as part of his 6-for-14 batting during week that included 4-3 midweek win over chief rival Georgia (cb360 #37), at  Turner Field (home of the Atlanta Braves, with nearly 20,000 fans in attendance) … factored into 11 runs (7RBI-7R-3HR) during week that included series vs. #31 Clemson (6-5 in 13, 7-13, 8-11) … reached base and had RBI in all four games, while totaling three stolen bases … his 2-run blast gave GT a 3-2 margin over Georgia in top of the 7th and he went on to score the decisive run in the 9th – after reaching on 2-out single, stealing second and scoring on Kyle Wren’s double for the final 4-3 margin … launched pair of early solo home runs in series opener Clemson, later adding key sacrifice fly that capped 3-run rally in 9th to force extra innings … played error-free in his 19 chances at shortstop.

CHASE JOINER
Memphis … RHP … 5th-Yr.-Sr.

Hopkinsville, KY … #5

Went the distance in tense 1-0 game, leading Tigers to series-deciding win at cb360 #11 Central Florida … UCF was ranked as high as 7th un the national polls, marking the highest-ranked opponent Memphis has beaten in a 3-game set series … faced 34 batters in the 129-pitch outings, scattering five hits and a pair of walks while striking out four UCF batters … worked out of trouble during first three innings before retiring 13 of the next 14 and diffusing jams again in the 8th and 9th … stranded four runners in scoring position in the shutout, while allowing only one UCF baserunner to reach third … sixth Memphis pitcher ever to post multiple solo shutouts in the same season … has 42 strikeouts with only 17 walks in 2012 (3.90 season ERA).

DON LAMBERT
Wichita State … RF/LF … 5th-Yr.-Sr. 

St. Louis, MO … 3/6-hole … bats: L … #3

Versatile veteran hitter who played lead role in winning series vs. cb360 #36 Dallas Baptist (13-3, 8-7, 1-4), providing nice boost to the Shockers’ NCAA tournament resume … hit .438 (7-for-16) during 3-1 week, which also included 9-7, 15-inning win at Kansas State … had a hand in 12 of his team’s runs during the week (6RBI-7R-H$), with 13 total bases (2 2B), 12 times on base (5 BB) and three stolen bases … sparked opening win over DBU (3-4, 2RBI-4R), followed another solid day in gm-2 win (2-4, 2R-2B-2 2BB) … came through in the cluch with 2-run double that provided the difference in 15-inning battle at KSU (4RBI-HR-2B) … his 4 RBI in that game tied a career-high.

KYLE OTTOSON
Oklahoma State … LHP … Sr.
Greeley, CO … #36

Transfer from Arizona State who helped knock off pair of Big 12 rivals in span of six days, starting with midweek class vs. rival Oklahoma (cb360 #38; 6-1) … pitched into the 9th to beat Sooners, facing only 32 batters in season-long 8.1 innings (R-5H-BB-4K) as Cowboys extended win streak to eight games (longest of the season) … bounced back from rocky 1st inning (R-3H) by logging 7-plus shutout innings and allowing only two more hits (both singles) the rest of the way … retired OU in order in the 3rd, 4th, 5th & 8th … answered early long-relief call in series final at Kansas State (9-5, completing sweep), entering 1-1 game in the 3rd and picking up winning decision thanks to his 4.0 shutout innings (3H-4BB-2K) … his combined stats for the week included the lone run allowed spanning 12.1 innings (8H-5BB-6K) … has made solid impact as newcomer to Cowboys staff (3.12 ERA, 40 K, 23 BB in 60.2 IP).

JORDAN PACHECO
UTSA (Texas-San Antonio) … RHP … Fr.
Victoria, TX … #40

Rose to the challenge vs. Baylor team that was ranked as high as #1 in the nation (cb360 #4), logging 5.1 strong innings to set the stage for 4-1 upset that ended Bears’ 24-game winning streak … surrendered the lone run on seven hits and one walk, while striking out five (in action at minor-league Wolf Stadium) … the win was the first over a top-ranked opponent in UTSA program history … combined with relievers Clint Sharp and Matt Sims to secure the historic win (Baylor ‘s first loss since mid-March).

STEPHEN PISCOTTY
Stanford … LF/RHP … Jr.

Pleasanton, CA … 3-hole … bats: R … #25

Reached base 12 times (6-for-14, 5 BB, HBP) during 3-1 week that included huge series win at cb360 #5 UCLA (7-2, 4-7, 7-2) … launched solo home run and scored three times (2 BB) in opening win over Bruins … reached base five times (3-for-3, 2 BB) as team’s top offensive player in second game – then helped deliver decisive win on Sunday (RBI-R-2B-HBP) … struck out only once during week that also included 10-9 win over BYU (1B-BB-SB) … took mound to save  that win over Cougars (1.2IP-2R/ER-3H-2K) … batting at a .325 clip for the season, with team-best 49 RBI and nearly twice as many walks (20) as strikeouts (11).

ANDREW REEVES
Tulane … RHP … Jr.
Baton Rouge, LA … #19

Helped Green Wave overcome subpar offensive weekend by winning 4-1 series opener at cb360 #27 East Carolina, with Tulane going on to win key CUSA series (4-2, 3-6) while boosting its NCAA at-large resume … was making only his third start in CUSA play but logged 7-plus impressive innings, yielding only an unearned run (6H-2BB-2K) … saw ECU’s first batter of game reach via error, take second on passed ball and come around to score – but did not allow any more runners to reach third base … retired 13 of his final 17 batters faced, for first win of season … has not allowed an earned run over his past 13.2 innings … rolled up 12 groundball outs in the clutch series-opening win … has compiled a 3.14 ERA, in his first D-I season (18K-9BB, in 28.2 IP).

TROY STEIN
Texas A&M … C … So.

Castroville, TX … 7-hole … bats: R … #6

Surging signal-caller who turned in second straight strong week, hitting safely in all four game while batting .583 (7-for-12) during week that included rivalry showdown vs. cb360 #25 Texas (6-5 at home; 12-4, 1-2 in Austin) … sparked series-opening win, matching his career-high for hits in a game (3-for-4) while driving in three runs (2B) … stroked two of his four doubles during the week to help deliver gm-2 win, adding pair of runs and also reaching on a hit-by-pitch … reached base twice in tightly-contested series finale (1-for-2, BB) … earlier helped top cb360 #36 TCU in 4-1 midweek game (2B-BB) … batting .324 for the season, while appearing in 38 of 44 games (with 31 starts).

CHRIS STRATTON
Mississippi State … RHP … Jr.

Tupelo, MS … #28

Extended his stellar season by posting first solo shutout of his college career, in 4-0 series opener vs. in-state rival Mississippi (cb360 #21) … scattered five hits and a lone walk over the nine innings, with seven strikeouts in efficient 104-pitch outing … posted his second straight complete game, after earning no-decision in April 19 extra-inning game at Tennessee … has most wins this season of any SEC pitcher (8-0) while ranking second among the league’s pitchers with 95 total Ks (2.39 season ERA) … only the third Mississippi State pitcher ever to earn multiple SEC pitcher-of-the-week honors during same season.

 

* KELLEN URBON
Cornell … RHP … Fr.

San Diego, CA … #13

Came through with Cornell’s season on the line in the finale of a 4-game series vs. Ivy League favorite Princeton, which had won the first three games vs. the Big Red (gms 1-2 at Cornell, 3-4 at Princeton) … despite previously averaging only 1.2 innings per outing this season, the rookie closer extended to 6.1 innings for easily his longest outing of the season – with the Big Red winning in the 12th, thanks to a Ben Swinford home run in the top of that inning … .aking his first appearance of the series – and with his team in danger of choking away the Ivy League Gehrig Division title – he yielded only an unearned run in the long-relief appearance, as the Big Red (picked to finish last) won an outright Gehrig Division title for only the second time … the win also allowed Cornell to earn the host position for the upcoming best-of-3 Ivy League championship series, May 5-6 vs. Rolfe Division champ Dartmouth (with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid) … struck out five Princeton batters while allowing three hits and a pair of walks in the 6.1 pressure-packed innings (he was on the mound longer than starter Brian McAfree) … his 0.59 season ERA would rank second all-time in the Cornell record books and includes a scoreless inning earlier in the week to close out a 9-5 win over Binghamton … his other season stats include nine saves and a lowly .170 opponent batting average.

KEITH WERMAN
Virginia …. 2B/C … Sr.

Vienna, VA … 9-hole … bats: L … #2

Classic role player who fielded error-free during 5-0 week – spanning 29 chances, most of them at second base, plus a couple innings behind the plate – while providing some bonus production from the bottom of the order … senior leader who helped Cavs extend winning streak to seven games, thanks to midweek victories over Radford (3-2, in 11) and at VCU (7-5 comeback) and huge sweep at cb360 #21 Miami (7-3, 7-4, 7-4; Sat.-Sun.-Mon.) … delivered momentum-shifting, 2-out RBI triple in early-going of series opener at Miami (also singled, scored a run and had one of his three sacrifice bunts during the week … has four quality plate appearances in gm-2 win (1B-HBP-SAC-CI), followed by pair of hits and run scored in series finale … despite hitting at bottom of batting order, ranks 5th on team with .296 batting avg., plus 27 runs scored and eight more free passes (25 BB, 2 HBP) than strikeouts (19) … has executed 19 sac. bunts (5 sac. flies) and owns a .989 fielding pct. (only 3 Es, spanning 45 starts).

RICH WITTEN
Coastal Carolina … 3B/1B … Sr.

Danville, KY … 5-hole … bats: R … #21

Hit 6-for-12 during key week that included 10-7 win at cb360 #31 Clemson and series sweep at Liberty (5-3, 4-2, 7-1), lifting Chanticleers ahead of Flames into top spot of Big South standings … reached base 11 times during the week, while factoring into 10 of CC’s runs (8RBI-3R-HR) … racked up a 1.564 OPS (on-base plus slugging) … supplied game-winning hit three times during the crucial week … his 2-for-4 game vs. Clemson (3RBI-2R) included the game-winning, 2-run double … opened Liberty series with another 2-run double that produced the winning margin, then launched 2-run blast that proved to be the game-winning hit in gm-2 (also walked and executed sac-bunt in that win) … closed series by hitting safely in his first two at-bats (RBI) before being walked three times, twice intentionally.

TY YOUNG
Louisville … 3B/LF … So.

Coastesville, PA … cleanup … bats: L … #30

Hit 6-for-15 and factored into 10 of the Cardinals’ runs (5RBI-6R-HR) during week that included the team’s second blowout win of the season vs. in-state rival Kentucky (cb360 #3; 10-2) and series win vs. Connecticut (5-0, 14-6, 4-7), one of several teams bunched near top of the BIG EAST standings … reached base three times (2-for-4, HBP, 2B) and drove in three runs to lead win over the Wildcats … walked and scored in opening win vs. UConn, followed by huge effort in gm-2 (3-for-5, 4RBI-2R-HR-3B-SB) … closed week by reaching base four more times vs. Huskies (1-for-2, BB-HBP-R-2B-SB) … batting team-best .368, with 34 RBI, six home runs and 12 stolen bases.
xx

* Harrell is the Primetime Player of the Week and Urbon the Primetime Pitcher of the Week

______________________

Action photos below (and above) courtesy of the respective schools:

Sam Eberle (Jacksonville, AL, State)

Dominic Ficoiello (Arkansas)

Kevin Flynn (Hofstra)

David Garner (Michigan State)

Mott Hyde (Georgia Tech)

Chase Joiner (Memphis)

Don Lambert (Wichita State)

Kyle Ottoson (Oklahoma State)

Jordan Pacheco (UTSA)

Stephen Piscotty (Stanford)

Andrew Reeves (Tulane)

Troy Stein (Texas A&M)

Chris Stratton (Mississippi State)

Keith Werman (Virginia)

Rich Witten (Coastal Carolina)

Ty Young (Louisville)

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