Witt Named Big 12
Player of the Week
5/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2004
WACO, Texas - Baylor junior second baseman Paul Witt was named co-Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. Witt shares the weekly honor with Oklahoma first baseman Ole Sheldon and is the third Baylor player to be so honored this season. Texas Tech reliever Corey Gerstner was named pitcher of the week.
Witt, a product of Pine Bluff [Ark.] High School, hit safely in all five games and was 7-for-17 (.412) on the week. He also scored three times, doubled and hit his first home run of the season. Witt scored the game-winning run in each of the first two games of Baylor's series sweep against Nebraska, including a scamper home on a two-out passed ball in the bottom of the ninth Saturday.
However, the highlight of the week for Witt was his defensive gem in the fifth inning of Saturday night's game. After Nebraska tied the score 2-2, the Huskers continued to threaten with Daniel Bruce at third and one out. With the infield playing in, Nebraska leadoff hitter Jesse Boyer hit a sharp ground ball up the middle. Witt made a diving stop on the ball and threw out Bruce at home from one knee.
The play, arguably the defensive play of the year in college baseball, can be view online at www.BaylorTV.com/video.php?id=000585.
Witt finished the weekend a perfect 22-for-22 in fielding chances, including 16 assists. He also turned three ground-ball double plays and started a line-drive double play.
On the season, Witt is hitting .321 with eight doubles, 19 RBI, 23 runs and nine stolen bases. He has made only six errors in 173 chances (.965) with only four errors in 126 chances (.968) at second base.
Witt has handled 90 consecutive chances at second without an error, spanning 19 games. He has made just two errors in his last 120 chances at second (.983) since a two-error outing March 27 at Oklahoma. He also is hitting .351 since then with hits in 22 of 26 games.
Josh Ford (March 23) and Michael Griffin (April 6) also have earned player of the week honors for the Bears this season. Cory VanAllen (Feb. 17) and Mark McCormick (March 23) have earned pitcher of the week accolades.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday night, hosting third-ranked Rice at 7 p.m. The Bears play their final home game of the season Wednesday against Texas Southern at 7 p.m. Wednesday's game is an addition to the schedule due to the April 24 rainout against Kansas.
