Alex Wimmers is the Big Ten pitcher of the week this week, the third time this season the sophomore from Cincinnati and Archbishop Moeller High School has claimed the Big Ten’s weekly award.
Wimmers was named co-pitcher of the week for his two-hit, 11-strikenout command performance in a 6-1 win over Michigan State Friday at Bill Davis Stadium. He shared the award with Indiana’s Eric Arnett.
Wimmers retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing his only walk of the game in the fourth inning. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning before throwing his third complete game of the season while striking out 10 or more batters for the fourth time to improve to 6-1 on the season.
“Alex Wimmers was the story of this game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said after the game. “He dominated this ball game.”
With the score 5-0, Spartan catcher Eric Roof broke up Wimmers’ no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the eighth inning.
Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart, who has caught Wimmers since the two were nine-years-old, said after the game there was nothing you could do about the hit because it was a good pitch that Wimmers threw. Then he paid his longtime friend a compliment that only Burkhart, who has caught so many of Wimmers’ games, would know.
“Alex has had a ton of great outings and this was another great one.”
In being honored for the third time this season by the Big Ten Conference as a pitcher/player of the week, Wimmers joins Ronnie Bourquin and Steve Caravati as the only Buckeyes to be so honored three times in one season. Caravati picked up his three weekly honors in 2004. Bourquin was named player of the week three times during the 2006 campaign. Both Caravati and Bourquin were, subsequently, named the Big Ten’s player of the year at the conclusion of the season.
Ohio State has picked up a Big Ten honor for the fifth time this season. The single season record for Buckeyes claiming the honor is seven in 2004. Twice, in 2003 and again in 2006, Buckeyes were honored six times. Five Buckeyes were honored in 1994, 1999, 2002 and so far in 2009.
2009 Ohio State Big Ten Player/Pitcher of the Week Honorees
Feb. 23 - Drew Rucinski, Pitcher
Mar. 2 - Dan Burkhart, Player
Mar. 16 - Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Mar. 23 - Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 14 - Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Wimmers Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week
Big Ten Release
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