College Update: Crescenta Valley High, Glendale Community College products putting up big numbers at next level
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
Erin Ashby (Crescenta Valley, 2011) Stanford softball junior: Along with much of the Stanford lineup, Ashby is putting up some lofty numbers in 2014.
A former two-time All-Area Softball Player of the Year, Ashby has progressed every season for Stanford and that’s not changing during the current campaign.
Ashby, who has played and started in 39 of her team’s 41 games, is hitting .339 (37 for 109) with 12 extra-base hits including five home runs, along with 28 runs batted in and 27 runs scored. She’s also walked 21 times and sports a .447 on-base percentage.
Ashby had a big game against Arizona in an April 4 contest in which she led the second inning off with a home run and walked later in the inning, as Stanford scored six runs and had 11 batters come to the plate. Ashby, who homered in her only at-bat the following day in a loss to Arizona, finished two for three with two walks, two RBI and a run scored. The game was in many ways emblematic of Stanford’s season, as the Cardinal most certainly produced, but lost its Pac-12 game, 18-12.
Stanford, ranked in the top 25 for most of the season, was 25-16 and 2-10 in conference heading into Thursday’s game against Utah to start a three-game conference series. The Cardinal has lost five of six heading into Thursday. Thursday and Friday’s games will be 2 p.m. starts airing on the Pac-12 Network, while Saturday’s 11 a.m. game will be streamed live on GoStanford.com.
Spencer Jack (Glendale Community College, 2013) Kentucky baseball junior: Jack has been an instant success at the four-year level for the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander has been an immediate weapon out of the bullpen for Kentucky, leading the team in appearances with 17. He’s sporting a sterling 1.59 earned-run average over 22 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts to five walks, a 1-1 record, two saves and a .188 opposing batting average.
Jack and the Wildcats open up at Texas A&M; on Friday for a three-game Southeastern Conference series. Kentucky is 24-13, 7-8 in conference.
Edgar Montes (Glendale Community College, 2013) University of Nevada Las Vegas baseball junior: Entering Thursday’s Mountain West Conference road game at Air Force, UNLV sports a terrific 25-12 overall mark and a 13-5 conference tally and Montes has been a steady contributor to the Rebels’ success.
Montes, an outfielder, is hitting .308 with 33 hits in 107 at-bats over 30 starts in 34 games played.
With six doubles and a pair of home runs, Montes has driven in 21 runs and scored 19, while drawing 12 walks.
Will Thayer (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) University of Hawaii, Hilo baseball senior: Thayer, who suffered through a concussion in his sophomore season and a broken hand in his junior season, has started to find his groove.
In a three-game series on April 5 and April 6, Thayer went a combined four for eight with four runs scored, a run driven in, a home run, double and a stolen base.
For the season, Thayer has played in 31 games and is hitting .265 with eight runs batted in, eight runs and five stolen bases.
Hilo is 10-27 and 7-17 in the PacWest Conference heading into Thursday’s game against Azusa Pacific.
Thayer has started to come on, batting .265 in 31 games. Last week against Dixie State and Hawaii Pacific, he went six for 15 with two home runs, a double, six RBI, five runs and two stolen bases.
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Follow Grant Gordon on Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon.