Quartet Earns Baseball Weekly Award Recognitions
Irving, Texas - Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) and Cameron Smith have earned Big 12 baseball Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, while Matt McLaughlin (Kansas) and Blake Smith (West Virginia) share the Newcomer of the Week accolade.
This is the first career award for Hermelyn, McLaughlin and Blake Smith, while TTU's Cameron Smith garners his second Pitcher of the Week award this season. Hermelyn becomes the fourth Sooner to win a Player of the Week distinction this season. Smith's pair of Pitcher of the Week recognitions this season mark the first time TTU has recorded multiple awards in that category in the same year since 2006. He is the second Red Raider to win the award multiple times in the same season (Shane Wright, 1998).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anthony Hermelyn, Oklahoma, Jr., 1B, McKinney, Texas/McKinney
Hermelyn hit a team-high .529 (9-for-17) as the Sooners went 4-0 last week, including a three-game sweep over Kansas at home. He notched a multi-hit game in each contest to lift his team-leading total to 16 on the season. Hermelyn opened the week with a 2-for-5 effort with an RBI in non-conference action against Central Arkansas. He posted back-to-back 2-for-5 days against the Jayhawks with a run scored and driven in in each game. In the weekend finale, Hermelyn finished the day 3-for-5 with a run. For the week, he scored three runs, drove in three, hit one double and owned a .526 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage for a 1.114 OPS.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP, Seabrook, Texas/New Mexico JC
Smith led Tech to a 5-1 win over No. 2 TCU in game two of the series with a complete-game gem that included allowing a run on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. It marked the first complete game of the season for Texas Tech. Smith retired TCU in order three times and held the Frogs to a .176 (3-for-17) batting average with two outs.
Smith, who leads all active Red Raiders with 12 career wins, now has a pair of complete games in his two-year Tech career, including victories over the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the nation. Smith tossed a complete-game shutout over No. 3 Miami (Fla.) in last year's NCAA Coral Gables Regional final to give Tech its first-ever NCAA Regional title with a 4-0 win.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Matt McLaughlin, Kansas, Fr., 3B, San Jose, Calif./Leland
McLaughlin erupted for seven hits in 18 at bats during week eight of the season, including three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored for a .389 batting average. The rookie also drew three walks and totaled a .476 on-base percentage. His three hits, two RBI and run scored last Wednesday helped pace Kansas to a win over in-state rival Wichita State in an 11-inning affair. McLaughlin hit safely in all three games at Oklahoma, extending his hitting streak to eight games, which is the longest active streak on the KU roster. In conference games this season, McLaughlin is second in the league with a .435 clip and ranks first in on-base percentage (.552), including 10 hits and six walks in 23 at bats.
Blake Smith, West Virginia, Jr., RHP, Tyler, Texas/Howard College
Smith made two appearances last week, earning one win and one save in 2.2 innings of action. He allowed no runs on one single with five strikeouts and no walks. On Saturday at K-State, he came on with a runner on third base and one out in the bottom of the eighth, tied 2-2. Smith struck out the first batter he faced and then induced a ground out to strand the runner. After WVU scored to take the lead in the top of the ninth, the right-hander struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his third win of the season. On Tuesday at Pitt, Smith entered the game in the ninth with a 4-1 lead and struck out one to pick up his second save of the season.
PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
Date Player of the Week Pitcher of the Week Newcomer of the Week
February 16 Eric Gutierrez, Texas Tech, Jr., 1B Sean Spicer, Baylor, Sr., RHP Kevin Bradley, Oklahoma State, So., INF
Jake Elliott, Oklahoma, So., RHP
February 23 Kolbey Carpenter, Oklahoma, Jr., INF/OF Preston Morrison, TCU, Sr., RHP Jon Littell, Oklahoma State, Fr., OF
Michael Cantu, Texas, Fr., C/1B
March 2 Aaron Dodson, Baylor, So., 1B/C Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Justin Arrington, Baylor, Jr., SS
March 9 Sheldon Neuse, Oklahoma, So., SS Alex Young, TCU, Jr., LHP Tyler Moore, K-State, Jr., C
March 16 Cody Jones, TCU, Sr., OF Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP Connor Mayes, Texas, Fr., RHP
March 23 Kolbey Carpenter, Oklahoma, Jr., INF Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Cory Raley, Texas Tech, Jr., DH/INF
March 30 Ryan Sluder, Oklahoma State, So., OF Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Quinn Carpenter, Texas Tech, Jr., OF
April 6 Anthony Hermelyn, Oklahoma, Jr., 1B Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP Matt McLaughlin, Kansas, Fr., 3B
Blake Smith, West Virginia, Jr., RHP
This post was edited on 4/6 3:50 PM by Vernon
Irving, Texas - Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) and Cameron Smith have earned Big 12 baseball Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, while Matt McLaughlin (Kansas) and Blake Smith (West Virginia) share the Newcomer of the Week accolade.
This is the first career award for Hermelyn, McLaughlin and Blake Smith, while TTU's Cameron Smith garners his second Pitcher of the Week award this season. Hermelyn becomes the fourth Sooner to win a Player of the Week distinction this season. Smith's pair of Pitcher of the Week recognitions this season mark the first time TTU has recorded multiple awards in that category in the same year since 2006. He is the second Red Raider to win the award multiple times in the same season (Shane Wright, 1998).
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anthony Hermelyn, Oklahoma, Jr., 1B, McKinney, Texas/McKinney
Hermelyn hit a team-high .529 (9-for-17) as the Sooners went 4-0 last week, including a three-game sweep over Kansas at home. He notched a multi-hit game in each contest to lift his team-leading total to 16 on the season. Hermelyn opened the week with a 2-for-5 effort with an RBI in non-conference action against Central Arkansas. He posted back-to-back 2-for-5 days against the Jayhawks with a run scored and driven in in each game. In the weekend finale, Hermelyn finished the day 3-for-5 with a run. For the week, he scored three runs, drove in three, hit one double and owned a .526 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage for a 1.114 OPS.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP, Seabrook, Texas/New Mexico JC
Smith led Tech to a 5-1 win over No. 2 TCU in game two of the series with a complete-game gem that included allowing a run on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. It marked the first complete game of the season for Texas Tech. Smith retired TCU in order three times and held the Frogs to a .176 (3-for-17) batting average with two outs.
Smith, who leads all active Red Raiders with 12 career wins, now has a pair of complete games in his two-year Tech career, including victories over the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the nation. Smith tossed a complete-game shutout over No. 3 Miami (Fla.) in last year's NCAA Coral Gables Regional final to give Tech its first-ever NCAA Regional title with a 4-0 win.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Matt McLaughlin, Kansas, Fr., 3B, San Jose, Calif./Leland
McLaughlin erupted for seven hits in 18 at bats during week eight of the season, including three doubles, four RBI and three runs scored for a .389 batting average. The rookie also drew three walks and totaled a .476 on-base percentage. His three hits, two RBI and run scored last Wednesday helped pace Kansas to a win over in-state rival Wichita State in an 11-inning affair. McLaughlin hit safely in all three games at Oklahoma, extending his hitting streak to eight games, which is the longest active streak on the KU roster. In conference games this season, McLaughlin is second in the league with a .435 clip and ranks first in on-base percentage (.552), including 10 hits and six walks in 23 at bats.
Blake Smith, West Virginia, Jr., RHP, Tyler, Texas/Howard College
Smith made two appearances last week, earning one win and one save in 2.2 innings of action. He allowed no runs on one single with five strikeouts and no walks. On Saturday at K-State, he came on with a runner on third base and one out in the bottom of the eighth, tied 2-2. Smith struck out the first batter he faced and then induced a ground out to strand the runner. After WVU scored to take the lead in the top of the ninth, the right-hander struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his third win of the season. On Tuesday at Pitt, Smith entered the game in the ninth with a 4-1 lead and struck out one to pick up his second save of the season.
PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 BASEBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
Date Player of the Week Pitcher of the Week Newcomer of the Week
February 16 Eric Gutierrez, Texas Tech, Jr., 1B Sean Spicer, Baylor, Sr., RHP Kevin Bradley, Oklahoma State, So., INF
Jake Elliott, Oklahoma, So., RHP
February 23 Kolbey Carpenter, Oklahoma, Jr., INF/OF Preston Morrison, TCU, Sr., RHP Jon Littell, Oklahoma State, Fr., OF
Michael Cantu, Texas, Fr., C/1B
March 2 Aaron Dodson, Baylor, So., 1B/C Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Justin Arrington, Baylor, Jr., SS
March 9 Sheldon Neuse, Oklahoma, So., SS Alex Young, TCU, Jr., LHP Tyler Moore, K-State, Jr., C
March 16 Cody Jones, TCU, Sr., OF Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP Connor Mayes, Texas, Fr., RHP
March 23 Kolbey Carpenter, Oklahoma, Jr., INF Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Cory Raley, Texas Tech, Jr., DH/INF
March 30 Ryan Sluder, Oklahoma State, So., OF Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State, Sr., LHP Quinn Carpenter, Texas Tech, Jr., OF
April 6 Anthony Hermelyn, Oklahoma, Jr., 1B Cameron Smith, Texas Tech, Sr., LHP Matt McLaughlin, Kansas, Fr., 3B
Blake Smith, West Virginia, Jr., RHP
This post was edited on 4/6 3:50 PM by Vernon
