Dela Cruz Named PacWest Pitcher of the Week

Freshman Jeremy Dela Cruz has been asked to show a veteran-like moxie on the mound this season for the University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcan baseball team, and thanks to several outstanding performances, he has been rewarded with the PacWest Conference’s Pitcher of the Week award.

Dela Cruz was rewarded for two outstanding performances this past week while the Vulcans were on the road in California. On March 28, the rookie came out of the bullpen to throw an inning and a third of perfect baseball, retiring all four batters he faced in his team’s 6-4 loss against Cal Baptist. Three days later, he started and finished against Academy of Art, going the distance while allowing only two runs on six hits, striking out four in a 4-2 Vulcans win.

For the week, Dela Cruz was 1-0 with a 1.74 earned run average in 10.1 innings of work, with opponents batting .162 against him.

On the season, the youngster holds a 2-3 record in nine appearances, including two complete games thrown. He holds an earned run average of 4.50, allowing 17 earned runs while picking up 17 strikeouts, and holding opposing batters to a .272 average.

UHH returns to the field on Friday when they face Hawaii Pacific University at Wong Stadium. The Sea Warriors swept the Vulcans in a four-game series on Oahu to open the season. Friday’s doubleheader will start at 3:00 p.m., with another doubleheader on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. Friday’s games will be broadcast on AM 850 in Hilo and AM 790 in Kona.