UCLA loses MVP
Going out of the box a bit here with a baseball update as UCLA lost its team MVP from the last two seasons to the professional ranks. Shortstop Brandon Crawford signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Here is the release from UCLA:
UCLA BASEBALL'S BRANDON CRAWFORD SIGNS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT
Two-time Bruin team most valuable player inks deal with San Francisco
LOS ANGELES - Shortstop Brandon Crawford, UCLA's starting shortstop the past three seasons, has signed a professional contract with the San Francisco Giants and will forego his senior season. Crawford, a junior on the 2008 baseball team, was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by San Francisco as the 117th overall selection.
Crawford ended his UCLA career having started in all 179 games in three seasons - 177 starts at shortstop and two starts as the designated hitter (in 2007) - while helping send UCLA to the postseason each spring. The Pleasanton, Calif., resident batted over .300 in each of three seasons, including a career best .335 average as a sophomore in 2007, and earned team most valuable player honors in 2006 and 2007.
"Brandon was one of the greatest shortstops to ever play at UCLA, and his statistics speak for themselves," head coach John Savage said. "His durability and athleticism showed up every day at the ballpark. Brandon never missed a game while in a Bruin uniform, and he helped us get to three straight postseasons. We wish him the best of luck in his professional career."
In 2008, Crawford registered a .302 average with seven home runs, 13 doubles, five triples and 51 RBI. In 2007, the Bruins' shortstop collected seven home runs, 17 doubles, two triples and 55 RBI as UCLA advanced to the Fullerton Super Regional. Crawford earned Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America in 2006, after having posted a .318 average with six home runs, 14 doubles and 30 RBI.
Crawford was one of five Bruins selected to the 2008 Fullerton Regional All-Tournament Team, hitting at a .375 clip (6-for-16) in four games. Crawford ended his junior season having registered an 11-game hit streak.
Five players from the 2008 UCLA baseball team have signed pro contracts - Ryan Babineau (Arizona), Alden Carrithers (Detroit), Jermaine Curtis (St. Louis) and Tim Murphy (Texas). Three high school players who signed National Letters of Intent last fall to enroll and play baseball at UCLA forfeited their eligibility this summer by signing pro contracts - Tyler Chatwood (L.A. Angels), Cutter Dykstra (Milwaukee) and Clark Murphy (Texas).
The deadline for signing a player selected in the First-Year Player Draft is Friday, August 15 (9 p.m., PT).
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Damn it Dohn, I almost needed a clean set of underwear after I read that headline. Maybe mix in the word baseball next time.
All kidding aside, you are doing a fine job and your blog is like my black tar heroin during the dog days of summer. Thanks.