May 20, 2003
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- ARIZONA STATE sophomore shortstop Dustin Pedroia has been named Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week and USC junior right-hander Brian Bannister has been named Pac-10 Baseball Pitcher of the Week for May 12-18, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Pedroia, from Woodland, Calif., helped the Sun Devils to three Pac-10 wins last week going 10-for-23 (.435) during that stretch with eight runs scored, two doubles, one home run and four RBI. With his two doubles, he broke the ASU single-season record formerly held by Chris Bando (30, 1978) and tied the Pac-10 record of 31. With 105 hits thus far, Pedroia is currently tied for 13th in the Arizona State record books for single-season hits.
While not factoring into the voting, Pedroia added to his impressive season Monday night going 3-for-5 in a 6-4 loss to the University of Washington. He broke the Pac-10 record with his 32nd double of the season, passing former Washington State Cougar and current Los Angeles Dodger Mike Kinkade (31 in 1994). He now has 108 hits on the year tying for ninth in the ASU single-season record books and has recorded 37 multi-hit games and leads the Pac-10 in hitting with a .424 batting average heading into the regular-season finale this weekend against rival Arizona.
Bannister, from Paradise Valley, Ariz., threw his first career complete game with a four-hitter on Sun., May 18 against Washington State. The right-hander allowed only one run, one walk, while striking out a career-high eight batters. In two appearances last week, Bannister was 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 11.0 innings pitched with nine strikeouts.
The Player of the Week honor is the first for Pedroia in his career and the 70th selection all-time and fourth in 2003 for Arizona State. The Pitcher of the Week is the first such honor for Bannister, the 52nd Trojan to earn the weekly recognition. Sun Devils Ryan Schroyer (Feb. 25) and Jered Liebeck (Feb. 4) have also earned Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week this year.
2003 PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 4 - Billy Susdorf, UCLA; Feb. 11 - Allen Craig, CAL; Feb. 18 - Jeff Clement, USC; Feb. 25 - Jeremy West, ASU; Mar. 4 - Danny Putnam, STAN; Mar. 11 - Brandon Averill, UCLA; Mar. 18 - Jeff Van Houten, ARIZ; Mar. 25 - Jeff Clement, USC; Apr. 1 - Travis Buck, ASU; Apr. 8 - Jeff Van Houten; Apr. 14 - Aaron Mathews, OSU; Apr. 21 - Conor Jackson, CAL; Apr. 28 - Jeremy West, ASU; May 5 - Ryan Garko, STAN; May 12 - Jonny Ash, STAN; May 19 - Dustin Pedroia, ASU.
2003 PAC-10 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 4 - Jered Liebeck, ASU; Feb. 11 - John Hudgins, STAN; Feb. 18 - Sean Rierson, ARIZ; Feb. 25 - Ryan Schroyer, ASU; Mar. 4 - Mike Kunes, UCLA; Mar. 11 - Sean Rierson, ARIZ; Mar. 18 - Jeff Petersen, WASH; Mar. 25 - Richie Gardner, ARIZ; Apr. 1 - Mark Romanczuk, STAN; Apr. 8 - Jesse Ingram; Apr. 14 - Josh Rummonds, USC; Apr. 21 - Mark Romanczuk, STAN; Apr. 28 - Clay Johnson, WASH; May 5 - Mark Romanczuk, STAN; May 12 - Casey Janssen, UCLA; May 19 - Brian Bannister, USC.