Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (St. Francis, 2000), junior first baseman,
University of Nevada at Las Vegas baseball -- The Rebels (47-17) had
their season come to an end at the hands of Arizona State on Sunday
in the final of the NCAA Regional at Tempe's Diablo Stadium in
Arizona.
Arizona State (53-12) advanced to the 16-team Super Regional with
a 16-1 victory against UNLV, which finished the season with the
second-most wins in program history.
UNLV put itself in a hole by losing a 14-12 decision to New Mexico
State in the opener. Valenzuela Jr. was hitless in six at-bats in
the game.
Valenzuela Jr., who was honored as the Mountain West Conference
Player of the Year, finished regional competition four for 19 with
seven runs and two runs batted in.
Tito Cruz (Hoover, 2002), freshman catcher, Long Beach State
University baseball -- The Dirtbags (41-18) won their NCAA Regional
to advance to the Super Regional for the first time in program
history.
Coach Mike Weathers' team will travel to Palo Alto to play
Stanford, which won its regional in the Super Regional. The winner
of the best two-of-three series will advance to the College World
Series in Omaha, Neb.
Cruz, who had just 23 at-bats during the regular season, didn't
play in the regional.
Russell Surber (Flintridge Prep, 1999), senior golfer, University
of Texas men's golf -- The Longhorns shot a final-round score of
nine-over-par 297 on Friday to finish in a tie for ninth place at the
NCAA Championship. Texas finished 25 shots behind Clemson, which
defeated Oklahoma State and UCLA to win the title.
Surber completed his collegiate career with a 14-over-par 86,
finishing in 94th place with a 50-over-par 338 (83-86-83-86).
