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Where were you this weekend? I'll tell you where I was. Instead of enjoying America's past time, I was busy moving out of my apartment in South Carolina on Saturday and making a nine and a half hour drive up to Maryland on Sunday. I wasn't able to catch any college baseball, and because of that, I feel ashamed. However, that will change next weekend as I head up to see Towson play on Saturday. The following week, I'd like to get down to Maryland to do a game report burgeoning first round talent, Jake Stinnett. So, stay tuned for that noise.
Virginia has been dethroned by (drumroll please) the Oregon State Beavers in the national rankings. We also have four new teams that entered the top 30 this week which I will highlight in their respective sections. The Beavers, led by potential 1st rounder Michael Conforto (410/.588/.625, 5 HR, 20.8 percent walk rate), swept California and have won seven straight.
In other news, Mlbpipeline.com has an updated Top 100 Draft Prospects up. Brady Aiken is No. 1 on that list.
On with the highlights...
(ACC Highlights)
Hot Streakin: No. 15 Miami (34-14, 19-5 ACC) - The Hurricanes now have the best conference record in the ACC and have won 21 of their last 23 games.
Stock Up: Trea Turner - SS - NC State - Everyone's favorite enigmatic draft prospect had himself a whale of a weekend (9-for-11, 6 stolen bases), winning ACC Hitter of the Week.
No. 2 Virginia only played one game this week, a midweek loss to Old Dominion, which gives the Monarchs a nice RPI boost, but caused the Cavaliers to slip from their No.1 throne they held throughout April.
Maryland (28-19, 12-14 ACC) picked up a much needed sweep of Notre Dame and continues to look like a potential tourney team for the first time in 43 years.
(American Highlights)
No. 14 Houston (35-13, 10-8 AAC) picked up a big series win over UCF. The Knights however, still hold onto to their 1st place lead.
Draft Sleeper: Eric Skoglund - LHP - UCF - The Knights Friday night ace has been dealing all season, pitching to a 1.87 ERA in 91.1 innings with 75 strikeout, 22 walks, and a .196 average. Mlb.com prospect video.
Hot Streakin: No. 5 Louisville (37-11, 14-4 AAC) - The Cardinals have now rolled off ten straight after sweeping South Florida and should be a lock at this point to host a regional.
Hitter Spotlight: OF Jeff Gardner won hitter of the week and leads the Cardinals with a .343 average.
(Big 12 Highlights)
On Fire: No. 20 TCU (34-13, 13-5 Big 12) - The Horned Frogs have rolled off 12 straight now, moving into a 1st place tie with No. 7 Oklahoma State.
Pitcher Spotlight: RHP Preston Morrison tossed a shutout on Friday with 7 K's versus Kansas State.
Making A Late Surge: Kansas (30-20, 12-9 Big 12) - The Jayhawks have quietly moved into 3rd place and have won seven straight now.
(Big West Highlights)
No. 6 Cal Poly (38-9, 14-4 Big West) picked up a series win at UC Riverside.
Entering The Rankings: No. 25 UC Irvine (28-14, 14-1 Big West) – It's about time the Anteaters crack the polls after sweeping UC Santa Barbara as they have dominated a competitive Big West conference .
Stock Down: UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton - Both these teams had been ranked for most of the season but have fallen out of favor with their mediocre conference records.
(Mid-Major Highlights)
Hartford (27-17, 13-4 AmEast) now sits tied for 1st with Stony Brook in the America East after sweeping UMBC. LHP Sean Newcomb tossed a CG Shutout on Friday and is a lock for the 1st round in the 2014 draft.
Entering The Rankings: No. 29 Nebraska - Let's hear it for head coach Darin Erstad and the Huskers. They swept Penn State to move into second behind No. 19 Indiana in the Big Ten.
Entering the Rankings: No. 30 Mercer (34-11, 16-5 A-Sun) - No surprise here, I've mentioned the Bears as a tourney sleeper before and they continued their roll with a big series win over 2nd place Florida Gulf Coast.
St. John's (30-15, 10-2 Big East) is now tied with Creighton for 1st in the Big East and the Red Storm could be on the cusp of the rankings.
The UAB Blazers (30-16, 16-8 C-USA) are doing their best to keep up with No. 18 Rice and sit in 2nd place after their sweep at Charlotte.
Mid-Major Slugger Of The Week: Nic Wilson - 1B - Georgia State - The burly Senior belted three home runs during a 15-10 win over South Alabama. He's now third in the nation with 16 home runs.
New Mexico is tied with UNLV for 1st in the Mountain West and swept the weekly conference hitter and pitcher awards.
Entering The Rankings: No. 28 Sam Houston State (34-14, 16-8 Southland) - The Bearkats are getting hot at the right time and look primed to win the regular season Southland title for the second straight year.
(Pac-12 Highlights)
Best In The West: No. 1 Oregon State (34-8, 17-4 Pac-12) – The Beaver, as mentioned before, are not only best in the west, but best in the country now.
Pitcher Spotlight: LHP Jace Fry had his A game on Friday night for the Beavers, tossing a one hitter with 7 K's.
No. 13 Washington (33-11, 19-5 Pac-12) still leads the Pac-12 after sweeping Utah over the weekend.
Hitter Of The Week: Shaun Chase - C - Oregon - Chase had a huge weekend (7-for-11, 7 RBI, 3 HR) that also earned him National Hitter of the Week recognition.
(SEC Highlights)
Sweeper Of The Week: No. 11 Florida (33-15, 18-6 SEC) removed any doubt of who the top team in the SEC is by landing a huge road sweep at No. 23 Alabama.
Best In SEC West: No. 16 Ole Miss (35-14, 15-9 SEC) - The Rebels replace 'Bama as the leader of the Western division following their series win over Arkansas.
No. 10 Vanderbilt (36-12, 14-10 SEC) has won seven in a row after sweeping Missouri. Everyone is sweeping Missouri lately, it seems. Walker Buehler improved to 8-1 with an SEC-best 1.49 ERA.
1B A.J. Reed of Kentucky still leads the country with 20 bombs and is 3rd in the SEC with a .358 batting average.
(Photo Courtesy Of: FGCU Athletics)
Hitter Of The Week: Michael Suchy - RF - Florida Gulf Coast
Yes, its time to give a smaller school prospect who most aren't familiar with his due. Suchy did anything but suck this weekend because he went 8-for-12 at the plate with three bombs, 8 RBI, 9 runs scored, and 5 walks. His monster weekend also garnered him National Hitter of the Week recognition. The Junior draft prospect stands in a 6'4", 230 pounds and is batting .321/.383/.521 with 7 HR, and 10 SB on the season. His main knock is the swing and miss in his game as he leads the Eagles with 36 strikeouts (17% strikeout rate) but his plus arm in right field, and power/speed combo make him an intriguing prospect that could come off the board as high as the 5th round.
HM/ Trea Turner - SS - NC State, Casey Fletcher - RF, Illinois
(Photo Courtesy Of: Maryland Athletics)
Pitcher of the Week: Jake Stinnett - RHP - Maryland
Again, I need to go see this kid pitch as he's practically in my backyard. He became the first ACC pitcher in 10 years to win ACC Pitcher of the Week four times in one season. Here's why: He tossed a complete game shutout against Notre Dame, allowing just 4 hits and a walk, while striking out 13. He's throws a heavy fastball that can touch mid 90's with plus command and works in a slider and changeup which he also commands well and can be above average offerings at times. As a signable Senior, Stinnett could come off the board as early as the 2nd round, possibly even late 1st round.
HM/ Jace Fry - LHP, Oregon State, Daniel Savas - RHP, Illinois, Sean Newcomb - LHP, Hartford
The latest rankings via College Baseball Writers
Draft Prospect Stat Roundup from Baseball America
D1 Stat Leaderboard via Boyd’s World
That’s it for this week. Stay classy, not crassy.
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