Orange Empire Pair Sweeps the SoCal Player/Pitcher Of The Week #3
Orange Coast sophomore first baseman Alan Choo and Saddleback second-year hurler Jace Barajas were chosen as the SoCal Player/Pitcher of the Week #2 (Feb. 2-8).
The 6-foot-1, left-handed hitting Choo, who attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. is from Dallas,Tx., knocked the cover off the ball as he batted 11-for-20 (.550) with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI in four games. Choo, who also scored eight runs and drew three walks, hit two bombs in the Pirates' win over Long Beach CC.
He is the son of former MLB outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who played 16 seasons in the show and was an All-Star in 2018 with the Texas Rangers.
Barajas, a 6-3 right-hander from Torrey Pines High in San Diego, twirled 7.2 innings of 2-hit shutout ball in the Bobcats' blanking of Moorpark as he walked one and struck out four.
He is the son of former MLB catcher Rod Barajas, who was a member early in his 14-year career of the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
Other SoCal Region Conference Players of the Week
Western State North--Player: Brandon Contreras, Ventura (.438 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI; Pitcher: Wylan Nelson, Santa Barbara City (6.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K)
Western State South--Player: Elias Frainier, Antelope Valley (.600, 2 2B, 7 RBI) Pitcher: Jack Nelson, LA Mission (7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K, Win)
South Coast--Player: Jose Perez, Cerritos (.375, 3 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI); Pitcher: Gabriel Cancino, Compton (8 IP, Win, 4 H, 0 ER, 7 K)
Orange Empire--Player: Choo, Orange Coast; HM-Lucas Scott, Irvine Valley (.667, 1 HR, 12 RBI); Pitcher: Barjas, Saddleback, HM-Jake Martinez, Orange Coast (7 IP, Win, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K)
Pacific Coast Athletic--Player: Joseph Anderson, San Diego Mesa (.400, 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI); Pitcher: Aiden Kuei, San Diego City (7 IP, Win, 3 H, 2 ER, 8 K