Oregon St. sophomore centerfielder Jeff Hendrix, who is also the leadoff hitter for the Beavers, was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week, after going 8 of 18 (.444), with 5 RBIs, 6 runs scored, his first collegiate home run, 2 stolen bases, a game winning sacrifice RBI in extra innings to bear rival Oregon, and a solid week with the glove. It's the first time Hendrix has earned the conference honor.
The Beavers are now 21-1 in games this season when Hendrix has been in the leadoff spot.
The 4-0 week didn't move Oregon St. up in the polls where they weren't already at the top though, as there was no movement in the top 3 in any of the polls. (Which means a lot of voters were probably enjoying Mother's Day weekend, and not studying outcomes in detail.)
Virginia remains #1 ahead of the Beavers in the Baseball America, Perfect Game, and USA Today polls, while Oregon St. holds the top spot over the Commodores in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
It sets up the series of the weekend though, as Washington is now up to #5 in the Baseball America, Perfect Game, and Collegiate Baseball polls, after a 4-0 week of their own. It's the highest the Huskies have ever been ranked.
The Beavers and Huskies are the only Pac-12 teams ranked in the Baseball America and Perfect Game polls, though Oregon still hangs on to #18 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, and #17 in the USA Today poll, despite losing 3 of 5 last week.
Cal-Poly held on to a probably national seed, after taking 2 of 3 from Cal-Irvine, and a win over Pepperdine, and climbed from #7 to #6 in both the Baseball America and Perfect Game polls, fell from #11 to #12 on the Collegiate Baseball list, and stayed at #5 in the USA Today list.
Irvine still leads the Big West Conference, though, and the Anteaters are #24 in the Baseball America poll, #21 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, #22 on the Perfect Game list, and are #25 in the USA Today poll.
Pepperdine is the other ranked team from the west, at #24 on the Collegiate Baseball list.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com