Three Stars: Former Pippin Garcia Named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week

Ryan Garcia, who played for the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2017, on Monday was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.

The UCLA junior right-hander from Sierra Madre, Calif., surrendered just one hit and retired 21 of the final 22 batters he faced as the Bruins completed a three-game sweep over Arizona last weekend with a 3-1 victory.

Though he didn’t get the win in the game, Garcia pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings and struck out eight — just one off his career best — and allowed one hit.

Garcia has a 1.20 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 15 innings this spring.

Oregon sophomore right-hander Cullen Kafka (Pippins 2017, 2018) is 2-2 with 29 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings for the Ducks this spring. His strongest outing so far was a 7-inning stint at Hawaii on March 8, when he struck out five and scattered six hits in a 3-1 victory.

Gonzaga freshman Mason Wells (Pippins 2018) absorbed a tough 4-2 loss at Pepperdine last week in an eight-inning performance — his longest this season — for his first career decision with the Bulldogs. He scattered four hits in the 92-pitch performance Overall, Wells has struck out 14 and walked 11 in 21 innings, while allowing nine earned runs and 12 hits.

By Jeff Garretson

March 26, 2019