Lone Star Conference baseball teams were able to open the season despite the winter weather that hit Texas, Oklahoma and Eastern New Mexico in early February.
In 2011, teams will play an 11-week, single round-robin schedule with a three-game series against every other team. Cameron remains undefeated with a 4-0 overall and 3-0 conference mark, while Incarnate Word and Southeastern Oklahoma began LSC play perfect at 3-0.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
HITTERS
Steven Vidaurri, University of the Incarnate Word, SR, OF, Corpus Christi, Texas, Calallen HS
Vidaurri, the Cardinals left fielder, led UIW with a big bat against Angelo State and St. Mary’s, connecting on 7-of-18 at-bats, including two doubles, a sac-fly and UIW’s first home run of the season. His slugging percentage is .778 and he has an on-base% of .429. He has scored eight runs with five RBI.
Jess Cooper, West Texas A&M University, JR, IF, Belle Fourche, SD, Belle Fourche HS
Cooper hit .591 in his first games as a Buffalo, driving in 11 runs on four doubles and a triple. In game one against UCO, Cooper went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored in the 19-6 run rule with for the Buffs.
PITCHERS
Miguel Ramirez, Tarleton State University, SR, Pitcher, Gallup, N.M., Gallup HS
Ramirez picked up two wins for the Texans, including a 10-strikeout performance against SWOSU. The New Mexico native has helped Tarleton start the season 4-1, picking up wins over the Bulldogs and No. 15 St. Mary’s, in the Texans stunning upset of the nationally ranked Rattlers in the season opener. With a 0.00 ERA, Ramirez has walked just two, given up just five hits, and allowed just two runs, both unearned. He has yet to throw a wild pitch or give up a home run all year.
Clay Stephens, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, SO, Pitcher, Houston, Texas, Bellaire HS Stephens picked up a pair of victories for the Javelinas last week. He went 6.0 solid innings against No. 7 Abilene Christian allowing just four hits and two earned runs in a 7-4 victory. Earlier in week he picked up a win pitching 2.0 innings in relief against UH-Victoria. Overall, he made three appearances scattering eight hits over 11.0 innings by holding opponents to a .205 batting average.