‘Eaters collect honors

UC Irvine senior Spencer Thompson and junior Andrew Fontein have earned Big West Conference offensive and defensive player of the week honors for the Anteaters, ranked No. 8 in the latest College Soccer News poll.

Thompson produced his first career hat trick in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Air Force at the San Diego State tournament.

Fontein, a goalkeeper, made four saves against Air Force, eight saves in a 2-0 win against Oakland Friday in San Diego, and two saves in a 1-0 win over Wisconsin Sept. 6 at home as part of the UCI College Classic.

Fontein has five shutouts to help UCI (5-0) outscore teams, 13-0 this season. His 14 career shutouts tie a school record and his 0.83 career goals-against average ranks No. 1 in UCI annals.

Thompson, a forward, has three goals and one assist this season. He was also named to the national Team of the Week by College Soccer News.

Senior defender Joel Bagby and sophomore defender Everett Pitts were named to the national Team of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer.

UCI returns to action at Sacramento State on Sunday.

— From staff reports

Ex-’Eater Orloff shines

UC Irvine product Ben Orloff was named 2010 MVP of the Tri-City ValleyCats, a Class-A baseball team in the New York-Penn League.

Orloff, who won the Brooks Wallace Award as the top shortstop in the nation as an Anteaters senior in 2009, hit .307 in 238 at-bats this season as a second baseman. He had 23 stolen bases in 28 attempts, drove in 16 runs and posted a .405 on-base percentage. He walked 34 times and struck out 19 times.

Orloff, who debuted with the ValleyCats at the end of the 2009 season, started just five of the team’s first 14 games this season. But he quickly worked his way into the everyday lineup and helped the ValleyCats clinch the Stedler Division title.

He also was named to the league’s midseason all-star team.

— From staff reports

Crumlich lauded

D.J. Crumlich, who will be a junior infielder for the UC Irvine baseball team in 2011, was ranked the No. 8 top prospect in the Alaska summer league in 2010 by Baseball America.

Crumlich, who hit .284 as a sophomore, driving in 16 runs and hitting one home run for the Anteaters, hit .231 with 34 hits, eight doubles and one homer for the Alaska Goldpanners. He drove in 15 and stole five bases.

— From staff reports