April 7, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University left fielder Scott Dierks was named the Rawlings/West Coast Conference Player of the Week Monday afternoon as announced by the league office.
The senior from San Jose, Calif. led the Broncos to a perfect 4-0 record in league play last week, posting three hits in the 10-7 win at Saint Mary's and two hits in each of the three wins over the weekend at San Francisco.
He began the week by going 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored at Saint Mary's. In Friday's series opener at San Francisco, he went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored in the 5-2 victory. On Saturday he went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in the 7-3 win. In Sunday's 7-3 win, giving the Broncos the series sweep, Dierks went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, one RBI, two runs scored and even picked up an assist from the outfield, throwing out a potential run at the plate.
His home run on Sunday was on the first pitch of the game and it was the fourth time this season that Dierks has led off the game with a home run.
He finished the week with a .529 average (9-for-17) to go along with four home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, eight runs scored, a slugging percentage of 1.353 and an on base percentage of .600. Of the 12 innings in which the Broncos posted their 29 runs, Dierks factored into 10 of those innings.
The player of the week selection is the first of Dierks' career and validates his move into the leadoff position on March 1. Since that day he has steadily moved up the offensive charts of the WCC. He currently leads the conference in batting average (.452), home runs (12), on base percentage (.549) and slugging percentage (.976).
Dierks and the Broncos are currently 16-19 overall and have a 8-4 mark in league play, just one game behind WCC Coast Division leader, Pepperdine, who has a 9-3 record in conference action.
Santa Clara returns home this week for a four-game homestand beginning Tuesday night at 6 p.m. against No. 4 Stanford. The Broncos will then host San Diego in a three-game league series thatbegins Friday night at 6 p.m. in Buck Shaw Stadium. Saturday and Sunday's games against the Toreros are slated for 1 p.m. starts.