LOUISIANA TECH’S WILLIAMS AND HAWAI‘I’S SQUIER NAMED VERIZON WAC BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Louisiana Tech first baseman Alex Williams and Hawai‘i pitcher Scott Squier have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 27-March 4.
Williams, a senior from Vick, La. (Holy Savior Menard Central HS), hit .476 (10-of-21) playing in five games this past week. Williams hit two two-run home runs against Middle Tennessee on Saturday to give him a team-leading six on the season. His six home runs this season already surpass last season’s total (4). Williams recorded eight RBI in five games as he led Tech to a 3-2 record last week. He was second on the team this past week with a .476 batting average and 10 hits. Williams is one of only two Bulldog players to play and start in all 13 games this season. He had a 14-game hit streak snapped on Sunday and has started 80 consecutive games, dating back to 2010. In five games last week, Williams tallied four runs, 10 hits, one double, two home runs, eight RBI and two walks.
Squier, a freshman from Phoenix, Ariz. (Greenway HS), recorded the first win of his collegiate career this past week. The freshman picked up a 4-0 shutout victory over Wichita State in 8.0 innings of work. He faced 27 batters and allowed no runs. He recorded seven strikeouts and allowed only two walks. His performance marked the longest outing of the season for the UH pitching staff.
The other hitter of the week nominations: Fresno State sophomore outfielder Aaron Judge … Hawai‘i senior right fielder Zack Swasey … Nevada junior outfielder Brooks Klein … Sacramento State freshman infielder Rhys Hoskins … San Jose State junior outfielder Tim Quiery.
The other pitcher of the week nominations: Fresno State sophomore Tyler Linehan … Louisiana Tech freshman Phil Maton … Nevada junior Tom Jameson … New Mexico State junior Micheal Ormseth … San Jose State senior Esteban Guzman.
2012 WAC TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO MESA’S HOHOKAM STADIUM
After succesful 2010 and 2011 tournaments, the WAC baseball tournament will return to Mesa, Arizona this May. The event will be played at Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium, the Chicago Cubs Spring Training home. The City of Mesa, Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau and Phoenix Regional Sports Commission worked in tandem to secure the event for a third-straight season, which features Hawai‘i, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, Sacramento State, Nevada, New Mexico State and San Jose State. The City of Mesa will once again host the double-elimination tournament with the winner earning the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The top six teams from the WAC’s regular season standings will advance to the tournament. The WAC Baseball Tournament is no stranger to the state of Arizona and the City of Mesa. The league’s championship has been played in Arizona 11 times (1963, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 76, 78, 2010 and 2011) and the event was held in Mesa in 1971, 1973, 2010 and 2011. Mesa has fast become the third largest metropolitan city in the state of Arizona offering a variety of lifestyle and leisure pursuits that are in high demand by visitors and residents alike. Now boasting 460,000 residents, Mesa’s population is greater than such well-known cities as Minneapolis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Miami. Mesa is unique among cities in the Phoenix area as it is embraced by the Sonoran Desert – a playground for sought-after outdoor recreation and one-of-a-kind attractions. As a sports destination, Mesa shines offering some of the nation’s best training facilities for field sports paired with unbeatable year-round weather and award-winning hotels. Mesa has been recognized as one of the country’s most desirable destinations for hosting dynamic sporting events and athletic competitions on all levels: amateur, youth, collegiate, and professional. Hohokam Stadium is best known as the winter home of the Chicago Cubs and is major league baseball’s most popular spring training venue. Boasting one of the largest capacities in the Cactus League, more than 240,000 attendees pass through its gates each March. In addition to hosting Cactus League Spring Training, Hohokam Stadium is also the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Hohokam Stadium and adjacent training facility opened in February 1997. The stadium seats 13,030 and includes one practice field and one practice infield.
WAC'S RPI ON THE RISE
The WAC's RPI comes in at 10 this week, up two spots from last week. Hawai‘i holds the best RPI among WAC teams at 32. New Mexico State follows closely at 37.