Oregon Ducks Early Season MVP
The Oregon Ducks have soared to a nine game winning streak and are currently 10-1 overall after dropping their opener against Hawaii. A vital part of the surge is right handed relief pitcher Jimmie Sherfy. Sherfy is a 6’0” 175 lb. sophomore from Newbury Park High School in Camarillo, California.
Sherfy, who wears jersey number 30, has garnered two notable achievements so far this season. He was named the College Baseball Insider West Region Pitcher of the Week on February 22 and also the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week for February 13th – 19th. The latter award is significant as it marked just the third time an Oregon Duck has won the Pitcher of the Week award. The last Duck to accomplish the honor was Madison Boer almost a year ago; he won the award for the week of February 14th – 20th. Boer was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
As a freshman, Sherfy made two relief appearances accumulating 1-1/3 innings. He has been brilliant in the young season in 2012. He is currently 2-0 sporting a slim 1.12 ERA to go along with two saves in his four appearances. He has been nearly unhittable allowing only seven hits over 16 innings and has 27 strikeouts. He has given up just two runs (all earned) and has held opponents to a miniscule .140 average.
How good are his numbers? He currently ranks sixth in ERA in the Pac-12, fourth in opposing batting average, third in strikeouts, tied for third in batters struck out looking and fourth in games finished. Sherfy is also tied for third with Oregon State Beaver and ESPN Preseason All-American, Tony Bryant, in saves.
Sherfy’s hot start has the Ducks sitting atop the Pac-12 standings with the Stanford Cardinals. The team is currently ranked 17th by Baseball America. Sherfy will lead the team into the next phase of the schedule as they play co-host to the Nike College Showcase. Seven of the games will be played in Eugene at PK Park while the other five games will be played at Goss Stadium in Corvallis the home of the Oregon State Beavers.
The other teams participating in the Showcase are Big East member Connecticut, Big 12 member Oklahoma, soon-to-be Big 12 member West Virginia and the next opponent for the Ducks, Illinois from the Big Ten. The Ducks will host Illinois on Friday, March 9th at 6 pm.
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