March 25, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - OREGON STATE sophomore catcher Ryan Ortiz has been named the Pacific-10 Conference Baseball Player of the Week and USC junior right-handed pitcher Ryan Cook has been named Pitcher of the Week for Mar. 18 - 24, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.

Ortiz, from San Diego, Calif., started all three games for the Beavers as they took a series from No. 16 Pepperdine, 2-1. He had 13 at bats during the weekend, posting a .462 average. He homered once, a grand slam, in Oregon State's 10-3 first-game win. Ortiz finished with seven RBI in the first game and nine for the weekend after also posting two doubles. The catcher was 2-for-5 with two RBI in the second game. During the series, he walked twice, hit three doubles and scored three runs. He extended his hitting streak to seven games, in which he is 13-for-31 (.419), scored eight runs, hit four doubles, three home runs, drove in 21 runs and walked three times. On the year he is fourth on the club with a .347 batting average, is tied for the team lead with three home runs and leads OSU with 24 RBI. He also has five doubles, six walks and a .982 fielding percentage.

Cook, from Clovis, Calif., threw a complete game, three-hitter in a 5-0 shutout of No. 2 Arizona on Saturday. With the Wildcats batting .323, Cook retired the side in order five times for his first career CG shutout. He walked one batter while striking out five as USC registered back-to-back shutouts. It was the first time since 1969 that Arizona has been shut out in back-to-back games.

The Player of the Week honor is the first of Ortiz' career, and the 53rd such honor for Oregon State. The Pitcher of the Week honor is the first for Cook, and the 60th selection all-time for USC.

Also nominated for Player of the Week: Josh Satin, CAL; Austin Yount, STAN; Doug Cherry, WASH.

Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Tyson Ross, CAL; Erik Davis, STAN; Jorden Merry, WASH.

2008 PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 26-Brett Wallace, Jr., 3B, ASU; Mar. 4-Josh Satin, Sr., 2B, CAL; Mar. 11-Ike Davis, Jr., 1B/LHP, ASU; Mar. 18-Ike Davis, Jr., 1B/LHP, ASU; Mar. 25-Ryan Ortiz, So., C, OSU.

2008 PAC-10 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 26-Tyson Ross, Jr., RHP, CAL; Mar. 4-Tim Murphy, Jr., LHP, UCLA; Mar. 11-David Coulon, Sr., LHP, ARIZ; Mar. 18-Ross Humes, Jr., P, WSU; Mar. 25-Ryan Cook, Jr., RHP, USC.