CB360 Primetime Performers week-8 (full release)

April 10, 2012
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Alabama senior centerfielder Taylor Dugas (Lafayette, La.) and Maryland junior lefthander Jimmy Reed (Gaithersburg, Md.) have been selected for the top honors among the CB360 Primetime Performers for the first full week of April in 2012, as presented by CollegeBaseball360.com. They are joined by 14 others on the week-8 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll, with Dugas and Reed the top honorees as the respective CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Primetime Pitcher of the Week. front-page photo courtesy of Alabama

(Note that this release now includes full data on all the honorees, with headshots, action photos and capsule info. – see below).

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

Taylor Dugas (Alabama)

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.).

The 16 week-8 Primetime Performer honorees are listed below – with short bio. capsules, headshots and action photos to be added later to this page (as in past weeks).

Dugas had a strong all-around series as Alabama swept its rival Auburn (cb360 #24), with the Crimson Tide leadoff hitter extending his on-base streak to 44 games while his other highlights during the series included: collecting his 300th career hit, setting the Alabama record for career triples (14), tying the career doubles mark (64), and ending game-2 with a 2-run home run (4-3). The 5-foot-7 sparkplug hit nearly .500 (9-for-17) during the 4-0 week, which included a 9-5 win over South Alabama, with 17 total bases and 11 times on-base (BB, HBP). He factored directly into 11 of his team’s runs during the week (7RBI-5R-HR).

After opening the series 2-for-4 with 3RBI (R-3B-2B-BB), Dugas ended gm-2 with a clutch 2-out/2-run blast to right field (2-for-4, HBP). His 2-for-5 effort (with a stolen base & run scored) then helped complete the sweep of the Tigers.

Jimmy Reed (Maryland)

Reed – who enjoyed an impressive first half of the season as the Terps closer – was shifted to the starting rotation and then bumped up to game-1, when ace Brett Harman was unable to go. The lifelong closer responded with eight shutout innings to beat North Carolina State (cb360 #17) in the 4-0 opener (2H-2BB-8K-29BF) – sparking his team to the eventual series win. The previous long outing of Reed’s college career had been 4.1 innings  – but he needed only 45 pitches to get through the 4th and went on to pitch to the end of the 8th.

In addition to posting 1-2-3 innings in the 1st, 3rd and 6th, Reeda never faced more than four batters in any inning . He worked around an 8th-inning walk with pair of Ks in that final inning of his outing. Reed still has allowed only one earned run all season, for a 0.34 ERA in 26.2 innings. His other season stats include a 6-to-1 K-to-walk ratio (30 Ks, 5 BB) and a lowly .136 opponent batting average.

Reed was joined on the CB360 Primetime Performers week-8 Honor roll by six others pitchers: Arkansas jr. RHP D.J. Baxendale (Jacksonville, Ark.) … Bradley sr. LHP Joe Burcher (Omaha, Neb.) … Miami jr. RHP E.J. Encinosa (Miami, Fla.) … Sam Hosuton State sr. RHP Michael Oros (Kingwood, Texas) … Cal Poly jr. RHP Joey Wagman (Danville, Calif.) … and Georgia jr./so. LHP Alex Wood (Charlotte, N.C.).

In addition to Dugas, the other position players on the week-8 Primetimer Performers Honor Roll include three shortstops – Appalachian State jr. Will Callaway (Greenville, S.C.), North Florida sr. T.J. Gavlik (Hong Kong) and Arizona State junior Deven Marrero (Davie, Fla.) – along with the first base duo of Florida State jr. Jayce Boyd (Cantonment, Fla.) and Utah Valley senior Goose Kallunki (Orem, Utah), plus a somewhat rare collection of three leftfielders: LSU jr. Arby Fields (Alto Loma, Calif.), Florida International jr. Jabari Henry (Orlando, Fla.) and Oregon so. Brett Thomas (Poway, Calif.).

The 16 week-8 Primetime honorees include five seniors, 10 juniors and one sophomore (one of the juniors has sophomore eligibility). Four of the honorees hail from hometowns in Florida, plus three from California and one each from: Arkansas, Hong Kong, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

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; #8)
(April 2-8, 2012 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
             “It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

D.J. BAXENDALE
(Arkansas … RHP … Jr. … Jacksonville, AR … #24)

Logged eight shutout innings to win series-deciding game vs. CB360 #30 Georgia (8-0) … faced only 30 batters, after scattering six hits with no walks and season-high seven strikeouts (in his longest outing of 2012) … showed great control all day while locating nearly 80% of his pitches for strikes (84 of 109) …  improved to 6-1 while lowering his season ERA to 4.20 (34 Ks in 40.2 innings).

JOE BIRCHER
(Bradley … LHP … Sr.
Omaha, NE … #31)

Proved his status as one of nation’s strikeout leaders with career-best 12 Ks while going the distance in pressure-packed, 2-1 win over Missouri State (cb360 #36) … that series-opening win sparked Braves on to winning the series vs. the top team in the MVC …  scattered seven hits and did not walk a hitter en route to his sixth career complete game (first by a Bradley pitcher this season) … faced a 3-ball count only twice in the entire game … allowed a solo home run with one out in the 6th before retired 11 of the final 12 batters … averaging 10.6 strikeouts per 9 innings (68 Ks, in 57.2 IP) to go along with a 2.65 season ERA and 4-1 record.

JAYCE BOYD  
(Florida State … 1B … Jr. … Cantonment, FL … cleanup … bats: R … #16)

Hit .500 (8-for-16) during 3-1 week, including 7-for-12 (.583) in sweep at #28 Georgia Tech (2-1 in 10, 12-7, 8-4) that left FSU atop the ACC at 14-1 … reached base five times in tight opener vs. GT (3-for-3, 2BB) … drove 2-out single up the middle in 10th inning of that game, scoring from moments later on a Justin Gonzalez single to left … the next day, he sparked 2-out rally in 9-run top of the 5th, with that RBI single part of his 2-hit effort in gm-2 … closed series by going 2-for-4 (plus a walk) in gm-3 win … earlier in the week, his RBI double drove in FSU’s only run vs.  Florida Gulf Coast.

WILL CALLAWAY
(Appalachian State … SS … Jr. … Greenville, SC
3-hole … bats: R … #32)

Played lead role in App. State continuing its climb up the national rankings, following key SoCon series vs. cb360 #49 College of Charleston (8-6, 8-2, 3-8) … opened series by hitting 3-for-4 with pair of RBI and a run scored (2B, sac-fly) … his 7th-inning single in that game preceded Daniel Kassouf’s 3-run HR, as Mountaineers scored five times to reverse 4-2 deficit into 7-4 lead … launched his own 3-run home run in series-clinching second game, after working to 2-0 count and then driving ball over leftfield fence for clutch 2-out blast … added an RBI double and stolen base in series finale.


*TAYLOR DUGAS

(Alabama … CF … Sr. … Lafayette, LA …
leadoff … bats: L … #1)

Turned in a strong all-around series as Tide swept rival Auburn (cb360 #24; 10-6, 4-3, 6-2), with the Crimson Tide leadoff hitter extending his on-base streak to 44 games while his other highlights during the series included: collecting his 300th career hit, setting the Alabama record for career triples (14), tying the career doubles mark (64), and ending game-2 with a 2-out, 2-run home run (4-3) …the 5-foot-7 sparkplug hit nearly .500 (9-for-17) during the 4-0 week, which included a 9-5 win over South Alabama, with 17 total bases and 11 times on-base (BB, HBP) … factored directly into 11 of his team’s runs during the week (7RBI-5R-HR) … opened series batting 2-for-4 (3RBI-R-3B-2B-BB) … ended gm-2 with clutch 2-out/2-run blast to right field (2-for-4, HBP) … his 2-for-5 effort (w/ stolen base & run scored) helped complete sweep of the Tigers.

E.J. ENCINOSA
(Miami … RHP … Jr. … Miami, FL … #44)

Converted starter who used that versatility to log six innings in marathon game vs. North Carolina (cb360 #3) that extended past midnight, with ‘Canes winning 4-3 in 14 innings to clinch series (and go on to series sweep later that day, after the sun came up) … flamethrower who closed the final six innings and retired all 18 batters he faced, with a caveat – he inherited runners on 1st & 2nd w/ no outs in the 9th, but UNC forced extra-innings after a sac. bunt and passed ball … totaled six strikeouts in his surprise 74-pitch outing, with no baserunners allowed … 12 of his outs came on Ks or groundballs (6), plus a pair of foulouts and an infield lineout … allowed only three balls to reach the outfield in the six innings … the three wins over UNC marked the first time since 2001 the Hurricanes had swept a team ranked as high as #3 … part of Miami staff that posted two shutouts in the series and allowed only three runs in 32 innings (one unearned; 0.56 series ERA) … other top Miami pitchers in the series included Eric Erickson (7IP-4H-5K), AJ Salcines (2GP-2IP-UER-2H-BB-3K), Eric Whaley (7IP-2R-7H-K) and Steven Ewing (6IP-3H-7BB-9K).

ARBY FIELDS
(LSU … LF … Jr. … Alta Loma, CA
8-hole … bats: switch … #9)

Reserve outfielder who was pressed into key role during series finale at #1 Florida, playing integral part as Tigers rallied from early 7-2 deficit to win 8-7 in series-deciding game … entered that finale in 2nd inning, due to injuries suffered by two other leftfielders … made big defensive impact – including one that robbed Mike Zunino of extra-base hit – while also delivering offensive spark … hit 2-for-4 from 8-hole, with RBI and pair of runs scored … drove the right-center gap for 2-out, RBI triple and went on to score tying run in 7th inning … also scored earlier run, in 3-run top of the 4th.

T.J. GAVLIK  
(North Florida … SS … Sr. … Hong Kong
9-hole/leadoff … bats: L … #10)

Helped knock off #1 Florida in 10-5 midweek game, followed by key Atlantic Sun series win over East Tennessee (1-6, 5-2, 13-4) … posted multiple hits (8-for-16; 4RBI-5R-2 2B-2BB) and scored in each game … totaled career-best 3 RBI in win over Gators, while batting out of 9-hole (2-for-4, RBI, 3B) … had RBI single as part of 4-run bottom of the 2nd vs. Florida, adding RBI groundout in the 5th and run-scoring triple into right-center gap (7th; also came around to score) … made diving catch to snare linedrive for final out in Florida game … struck out only once all week, in  18 plate appearances.

JABARI HENRY  
(Florida International … LF … Jr.
Orlando, FL … 5/6-hole … bats: R … #14) 

Showed his penchant for bunching together big hits during team’s 5-0 week, homering four times while totaling 13 RBI and scoring 7 runs … opened week with booming home run to deep-center against Florida A&M (FIU won 13-0, then 9-4 the next day) …helped sweep Sun Belt Conference preseason co-favorite Troy (11-7, 5-3, 4-2), with home run that held up as game-winning run in 8th inning of gm-2 – before homering twice in series finale … also had another eventual game-winning hit, on a 2-run single, in series opener vs. Trojans … totaled 5 RBI in  that first game vs. Troy, in game started by Tyler Ray (widely considered to be SBC’s top pitcher) …hit 5-for-10 in Troy series, with 10 RBI, 4 runs and the pair of HR (BB, SF) … batting at a .462 clip over the past 10 games (6 HR, 23 RBI).

GOOSE KALLUNKI  
(Utah Valley … 1B … Sr. … Orem, UT
5-hole … bats: R … #33

Hit .526 (10-for-19) with three home runs and 12 RBI during 5-0 week that included 5-4 win over CB360 #6 Arizona … the ‘Cats were ranked as high as #4 in the national polls, representing the biggest upset in Utah Valley’s D-I history … hit 2-for-4 with a home run and pair of home runs in upset of Arizona … stroked game-ending double vs. North Dakota, sparking 4-gm sweep of that Great West Conference opening series … added grand slam and 3-run blast later in that series … his season totals include five home runs and 31 RBI.

DEVEN MARRERO  
(Arizona State … SS … Jr. … Davie, FL
2-hole … bats: R … #17) 

Made key contributions in ASU’s sweep of #20 Oregon State (8-2, 3-2, 5-1), with timely hits in each game while playing error-free on 16 fielding chances in the series … his 2-out bunt single, stolen base & run opened the game’s scoring and sparked 4-run bottom of the 3rd in opener … came through in the clutch a day later, stroking 2-run triple that pushed ASU ahead 2-1 in the 5th … singled and scored as part of 5-run rally in 8th inning of the series finale.


MICHAEL OROS

(Sam Houston State … RHP … Sr.
Kingwood, TX … #39)

Registered big midweek win over cb360 #12 Rice, with five shutout innings in his first start of season (3H-3BB-4K) … returned to his reliever role over the weekend and saved 5-3, series-sweeping game vs. Southland Conference contender Northwestern (La.) State, facing only six batters over the final 2.o innings (H-3K, runner erased caught stealing) … leads team in ERA (1.91) while winning all four of his official decisions, with a pair of saves.
*JIMMY REED  
(Maryland … LHP … Jr.
Gaithersburg, MD … #11)

Enjoyed impressive first half of the season as the Terps closer before being shifted to the starting rotation and then bumped up to game-1, when ace Brett Harman was unable to go … the lifelong reliever responded with eight shutout innings to beat North Carolina State (cb360 #17), in the 4-0 opener (2H-2BB-8K-29BF) – sparking team to eventual series win … previous long outing of his college career had been 4.1 innings … needed only 45 pitches to get through the 4th … posted 1-2-3 innings in the 1st, 3rd and 6th and never faced more than four batters in any inning … worked around 8th-inning walk with pair of Ks in that final inning of his outing … has allowed only one earned run all season, for a 0.34 ERA in 26.2 innings … his other season stats include a 6-to-1 K-to-walk ratio (30 Ks, 5 BB) and a lowly .136 opponent batting average.

BRETT THOMAS
(Oregon … LF … So. … Poway, CA
5-hole … bats: L … #2) 

Rose to the occasion in big series at cb360 #5 UCLA, batting 7-for-11 as Ducks won 2-of-3 (6-2, 8-3, 6-8) … totaled nine bases (2 2B), reached base nine times (BB-HBP) and factored into five runs (2RBI-3R) while adding pair of stolen bases and even an outfield assist to round out his strong all-around series … hit 2-for-4 (SB) in series opener, then went 3-for-4 (RBI, R) in the series-clincher … had key 2-out RBI single, as part of Oregon’s 4-run top of the 5th in that gm-2 win … closed with his third multi-hit games of the series, in Saturday finale (2-for-4, RBI, 2R, 2B, SB).

JOEY WAGMAN  
(Cal Poly … RHP … Jr.
Danville, CA … #30)

Dropped his season ERA to 2.05, after scattering seven hits over eight scoreless innings in 6-0 win over cb360 #39 UC Irvine – launching Mustangs on to series sweep (also 3-2, 8-1) of fellow Big West contender UCI … struck out four and walked only one in the 110-pitch outing … had pair of 1-2-3 innings while allowing only two baserunners to reach third base … the game marked the first time since 2008 that a Big West team has defeated Irvine in a series opener (ending UCI’s stretch of 25 straight Big West series without a gm-1 loss).

ALEX WOOD  
(Georgia … LHP … Jr./So.
Charlotte, NC … #33)

Delivered huge series-opening win at cb360 #9 Arkansas (4-2), going the distance with 11 strikeouts to get the best of duel opposite Ryan Stanek (who entered the game with a 1.26 ERA and 6-0 record) … lasted three innings longer than Stanek while negating spirited Baum Stadium crowd of 7,500-plus … seemingly became stronger as game progressed, after pitching without a lead until UGa scored three times in the 5th (for the 4-2 final margin) … allowed the pair of runs on seven hits and three walks, while dropping his season ERA to 2.45.

* Dugas is the CB360 week-8 Primetime Player of the Week while Reed is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week

_____________________

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

DJ Baxendale (Arkansas)

Joe Bircher (Bradley)

Jayce Boyd (Florida State)

Will Callaway (Appalachian State)

EJ Encinosa (Miami)

Arby Fields (LSU)

TJ Gavlik (North Florida)

Jabari Henry (Florida International)

Goose Kallunki (Utah Valley)

Deven Marrero (Arizona State)

Michael Oros (Sam Houston State)

Brett Thomas (Oregon)

Joey Wagman (Cal Poly)

Alex Wood (Georgia)

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