Baseball's den Dekker Named CB360 Primetime Player of the Week
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | Baseball
University of Florida senior outfielder Matt den Dekker (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) was chosen as the Primetime Player of the Week produced by CollegeBaseball360.com on Wednesday. This marks the second-straight week that a Gator has received one of the organization's top awards, as freshman Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) was tabbed the Primetime Pitcher of the Week on April 27.
den Dekker continued to lead the young Gator squad during weekend action on April 30-May 2, as Florida (#7 at the time in the CB360 Composite National Rankings) posted its first series sweep of LSU since the 1996 season. The 6-1, 210-pound left-handed hitter swung a hot bat throughout the series, going 8-for-13 (.615) over the course of the three games while totaling five RBI and five runs scored (plus a home run and 3-for-3 on stolen bases). Widely regarded as one of the nation's elite centerfielders, the speedy den Dekker flashed those defensive skills to further help Florida double up LSU in total runs, 28-14, during the three-game series (7-3/8-5/13-6).
After hitting in the six-hole during the first two games of the series, den Dekker was shifted up to the second position in the lineup and responded with the best all-around offensive game of his college career – batting 5-for-5 with four RBI, four runs scored and a momentum-grabbing home run in the early moments of the series finale versus the defending national champions. LSU All-American Matty Ott worked ahead in the count against den Dekker in the opening frame, but the Florida veteran jumped all over the 0-2 pitch and pulled a two-run blast over fence in right-center.
The sweep moved Florida (31-11/15-6 SEC) one game back of league-leading South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference standings, while also keeping the Gators firmly in the running for an NCAA top-8 national seed. In addition to currently leading the Gators with a .356 season batting average, den Dekker owns team-best totals in runs (43) and stolen bases (16).
den Dekker was part of CollegeBaseball360.com's 11th group of Primetime Performers for action from April 26-May 2. Oregon fifth-year senior right-hander Justin LaTempa was named the Primetime Pitcher of the Week after crafting a one-hitter versus a dangerous Washington State squad that already had claimed Pac-10 series this season against Arizona State and Oregon State. LaTempa's dominant performance versus the Cougars included a career-best 10 strikeouts, only one walk and a hit batter. During his 113-pitch outing, the righty faced 31 batters faced, four over the minimum, and had his bid for a no-hitter end in the eighth inning.
The other 17 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for April 26-May 2 included: Bryant freshman left fielder Kevin Brown, North Carolina State junior right-hander Jake Buchanan, Louisville senior first baseman Andrew Clark, Nicholls State junior left-hander Clint Dempster, Le Moyne senior left fielder Chris Edmondson, Virginia junior left fielder/second baseman Phil Gosselin, Texas junior right-hander Cole Green, Samford senior right fielder Trey Hayes, Washington freshman third baseman Jacob Lamb, Nebraska freshman right-hander Tom Lemke, Auburn junior center fielder Trent Mummey, San Diego State junior right-hander Addison Reed, Arizona State sophomore center fielder Johnny Ruettiger, Florida Gulf Coast junior left-hander Chris Sale, South Carolina senior catcher Brady Thomas and Florida International sophomore second baseman/third baseman Garrett Wittels.
The 19 honorees include one two-way player (3B/RHP), a multi-position talent (LF-2B) and a utility infielder (2B/3B), along with five other right-handed pitchers, a pair of LHPs, three center fielders, two left fielders, a catcher, first baseman, third baseman and right fielder. The selections feature a 5th-year senior, five seniors, seven juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen. The honorees hail from 15 different home states, led by four from Florida, two Californians and one each from Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
The CB360 Primetime Performer honors various players based on any/all of the following “primetime” criteria (i.e. not solely based on raw stats):
• Must have been playing for a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings) or against such a top-level opponent, or performed a high level in a game that could be key to a team's conference/NCAA postseason qualification.
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, etc.
• Performing 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.
• Overcoming adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
CollegeBaseball360.com Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll (April 26-May 2)
Player (Pos.) … School … Yr. … Hometown … Stats & Notes
KEVIN BROWN (LF … #29)
Bryant … Fr.
Northborough, MA … 6-0 • 195 • Bats: Left
Rookie leadoff hitter whose efforts in 4-game sweep of league favorite Wagner helped vault Bryant (#5 in Northeast Conf. preseason poll) atop NEC standings (15-5; NEC Tournament is top-4) … hit .588 (10-17) while amassing an eye-popping 1.765 OPS (on-base plus slugging pct.) in exciting series (8-4/6-5/6-3/11-10) that included pair of extra-inning wins … factored into 12 of team's runs (5 RBI, 8 R, HR), with 18 total bases (2 3B, 2B) and 12 times on base (BB, HBP).
JAKE BUCHANAN (RHP … #33)
North Carolina State … Jr.
Dallas, NC
6-0 • 220
Outdueled Georgia Tech ace Deck McGuire to win opener (6-5) and send Wolfpack on to winning series (after being swept previous week by Boston College) … struck out 13 GT batters in 7.2 innings while allowing 3 earned runs (5R total), with 6 hits allowed and a single walk.
ANDREW CLARK (1B … #24)
Louisville … Sr.
New Palestine, IN
6-3 • 225 • Bats: Left
Veteran 3-hole batter who hit 9-for-15 with 12 RBI and 3 home runs in 4-0 week (10-9 vs. #40 Kentucky; 7-3/8-5/13-6 vs. BIG EAST contender Rutgers) … capped week with 4-for-4, 8-RBI game vs. RU that included pair of HRs (3-run & grand slam) in 10-run bottom of 1st (after RU scored 3) … his other stats for the week included a 1.267 slugging pct. (2B), 8 runs scored, a walk, hit-by-pitch and sac.-fly … now batting .406 for season (11 HR, 46 RBI).
CLINT DEMPSTER (LHP … #5)
Nicholls State … Jr.
Thibodaux, LA
6-2 • 195
Racked up 16 strikeouts (vs. 8 different Lions starters) in crucial 5-3 series-opening win vs. league power Southeastern Louisiana, keeping Nicholls State in running for its first Southland Conference Tournament berth in 10 years … the hometown hero went the distance while allowing only a single earned run (7H-2BB) in the 147-pitch outing.
*MATT den DEKKER (CF … #17)
Florida … Sr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
6-1 • 210 • Bats: Left
Led young team to program's first series sweep of LSU since 1996 (7-3/8-5/13-6) … hit .615 (8-13) with 5 RBI and 5 runs in series (also HR, 3-of-3 SB) … shifted from 6-hole to #2 spot for series finale and responded with top all-around game of his career (5-for-5, 4 RBI, 4 R, early 2-run HR vs. All-American Matty Ott) … helped keep team in running for SEC title and top-8 seed in NCAAs.
CHRIS EDMONDSON (LF … #19)
Le Moyne … Sr.
Johnson City, NY
6-0 • 200 • Bats: Left
Cleanup batter who supplied 2-run blast for game's big hit in 3-1 series-opening win at #10 Florida State … had pair of home runs and two doubles in series at FSU (plus 4 RBI, 3 runs and a stolen base).
PHIL GOSSELIN (LF/2B … #5)
Virginia … Jr.
West Chester, PA
6-1 • 190 • Bats: Right
Leadoff man and versatile defensive talent whose grand slam sparked Cavs to 6-3 win in regional showdown with #6 Coastal Carolina … also had career-best 4 hits vs. Georgetown (10-5) and helped sweep Duke squad (12-3/11-1/10-6) that already has taken ACC series from UNC and Clemson this season (plus win over FSU) … hit .480 (12-for-25) with team-best 8 RBI during the week.
COLE GREEN (RHP … #24)
Texas … Jr. … Coppell, TX … 6-0 • 210
Turned in another impressive outing that stretched deep into the game, while locked in a pitchers duel opposite Baylor's Shawn Tollesen … tossed 7-plus shutout innings before allowing unearned run that tied game in the 8th (8.1IP-6H-BB-5K-11GO-30BF-111 pitches) – with Longhorns going on to win 2-1 in the 14th.
TREY HAYES (RF … #2)
Samford … Sr.
Cocoa Beach, FL … 6-1 • 200 • Bats: Right
Produced from 6-hole in pair of wins vs. The Citadel (7-5/6-14/12-11), as Samford became first team to take series from the Southern Conference favorites (Citadel entered the series 16-2 in SoCon play) … hit 5-for-8 and factored into 8 runs (2 RBI, 6R, HR) during the pair of big wins (3B, BB) … his walk helped extend the series finale, as Samford answered Citadel's 5 runs in top of 9th with 4 in the bottom to win game and series (he scored tying run on game-winning hit).
JACOB LAMB (3B … #18)
Washington … Fr.
Seattle, WA
6-2 • 205 • Bats: Left
Bounced around lineup (9-hole in opener, then #3 batter) but provided several clutch moments in sweep of surging #18 Stanford (4-2/8-1/4-3 in 11) … hit 6-for-13 in series (2RBI-3R-2 2B-HBP-SB-SAC), with huge effort in finale (5-for-7, RBI, R, 2 2B) that included leadoff single in the 15th (his pinch-runner scored winning run; rest of UW team was 7-for-45 in gm-3).
*JUSTIN LaTEMPA (RHP … #30)
Oregon … 5th-Yr. Sr.
Huntington Beach, CA
6-5 • 210
Helped NCAA Regional-host hopefuls bounce back from tough series-opening loss vs. Washington State (3-2) by crafting a 1-hitter (6-0) that included career-best 10 Ks and 11 groundball outs … faced only 31 batters (4 over min.; BB-HBP-E) in the 113-pitch outing … retired first 14 he faced and took no-hitter into the 8th … dropped his season ERA to 2.64 ( also 50 K/13 BB).
TOM LEMKE (RHP … #30)
Nebraska … Fr.
Phoenix, AZ
6-8 • 230
Cornhuskers rookie who pitched like a battle-tested veteran in the Big 12 Conference series finale versus Texas A&M, winning a rare 1-0 game with his 5-hitter … faced 34 batters (2 walks, season-best 9 Ks) in the 126-pitch outing … became first Nebraska pitcher since 2002 to post multiple solo shutouts in the same season … faced only 13 batters through the games's first four innings.
TRENT MUMMEY (CF … #7)
Auburn … Jr.
Pinson, AL
5-10 • 175 • Bats: Left
Led bounceback series win (4-9/8-7/13-2) at #4 Arkansas, as Tigers overcame opening loss vs. ace LHP Drew Smiley … hit 5-for-10 in the series, with his all-around contributions including a pair of home runs, 3 RBI, a walk, hit-by-pitch, 2 sacrifice bunts and a stolen base.
ADDISON REED (RHP … #30)
San Diego State … Jr.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
6-3 • 215
Talented ace of San Diego State staff who faced only 30 batters in 8.0 shutout innings versus potent offense from #36 New Mexico, as the Aztecs shut out the Lobos in 11-0 opener of their Mountain West Conference matchup … struck out 9 New Mexico batters while allowing only 4 hits (BB-2 HB).
BO REEDER (3B/RHP … #22)
East Tennessee State … So.
Cookeville, TN
6-0 • 195 • Bats: Right
Two-way player and young leader for team that was picked to finish 9th in Atlantic Sun Conference but now finds itself in 2nd place, after sweeping Stetson team that was picked to finish 3rd in league (12-7/10-7/22-4) … scored winning runs in first two games vs. Stetson and homered in each game of series (pushing his season HR total to 15) … hit 8-for-13 (.615) from the 5-hole during the key series, with 8 RBI-10R-3HR-2B-BB (also had no-decision as game-2 starter on the mound).
JOHNNY RUETTIGER (CF … #23)
Arizona State… So.
Joliet, IL
6-2 • 180 • Bats: Left
Provided offensive boost from the 6-hole, in huge sweep at #4 UCLA (5-1/6-1/12-5) … his 2-run 3B (run scored) ignited ASU's 4R in 8th inning of opener, for final 5-1 margin … hit 6-for-10 in the marquee Pac-10 Conference series (3 RBI, 3 R, 3B, 2B, 2 BB, SB).
CHRIS SALE (LHP … #41)
Florida Gulf Coast … Jr.
Lakeland, FL
6-6 • 185
Highly-regard professional prospect who shut down #29 Clemson's offense in 4-2 series-opening win (part of rare lateseason four-game non-conference series) … limited Tigers to pair of runs on 4 hits and 2 walks in 8.0 full innings, while rolling up 10 strikeouts and 9 more outs via groundballs.
BRADY THOMAS (C … #36)
South Carolina … Sr.
Anderson, SC
5-9 • 180 • Bats: Left
Dangerous pinch-hitter and platoon starter behind the plate, who played key role in helping South Carolina stay atop the Southeastern Conference standings with series win over #32 Alabama (9-7 in 11 inn./4-6/20-15) … dug in on 2-out full count and drove ball over right-center fence to win the extra-innings opener … made the most of his at-bats in the series, hitting 4-for-5 with 6 RBI, 5 runs scored and a pair of home runs.
GARRETT WITTELS (2B/3B … #10)
Florida International … So.
Bay Harbor Island, FL
6-1 • 200 • Bats: Right
Steady 3-hole hitter who extended his hitting streak t0 38 games – longest in Division I baseball since 1999 and 10th in the NCAA record book (longest in FIU and Sun Belt Conf. history) … kept the streak alive during midweek game vs. Jacksonville and 3-game series vs. Louisiana-Monroe … smacked his first HR of season during the week and had single that forced ULM series finale into extra innings … had 5RBI-2R-HR-2 2B-SB during the week … batting .404 with 39 RBI and 29 runs scored during the 38-game hitting streak.
* – Florida's Matt den Dekker was the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Oregon's Justin LaTempa was the Primetime Pitcher of the Week … note that rankings above refer to the CB360 top-50 … class years are based on academic standing (some players may have an extra year of eligibility)
-UF-
