(After games of Tuesday, June 5)
One player is chosen from each region of the country. These are the final ESPNHS Player of the Week honorees for the 2011-12 school year.
EAST
Alex Godzak, Westhill (Syracuse, N.Y.)
The senior left-handed pitcher was dominant in an 8-1 win over Cazenovia (N.Y.) in the Section III Class B championship game. Godzak allowed only one hit -- a sixth-inning double -- while striking out 13 batters and yielding only one walk to avenge a regular-season loss. Godzak, a Canisius recruit who had a perfect game through five innings, improved his season record to 10-1 with an earned run average under 1.00. The win advances the Warriors to the state tournament this week. Westhill won state crowns in 2009 and 2010.
SOUTHEAST
Jimmy Boyd, Middle Creek (Apex, N.C.)
A four-year varsity starter, Boyd led the Mustangs to the Class 4A state title, which also is the first state title in any sport for the school. Boyd pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts in a 2-0 win against Hough (Cornelius, N.C.) in the first game of the best-of-three title series. Middle Creek then won the second game 10-4. In addition to pitching, Boyd also reached base four times in the two games. For the season, Boyd went 8-1 with a 0.86 ERA. He also batted .450, including .550 in the playoffs.
MIDWEST
Kevin Ruff, Minooka (Ill.)
The right-handed senior pitcher was perfect in a 9-0 victory over O'Fallon (Ill.) in the Class 4A sectional tournament final. Ruff retired all 21 batters in his first career no-hitter. Ruff struck out just four batters, but allowed only five balls hit out of the infield and depended on team defense in the playoff game. Earlier in the season, Ruff -- who also plays third base and the outfield -- had a one-hitter against Romeoville (Ill.).
MIDLANDS
Turner Larkins, Arlington Martin (Arlington, Texas)
He’s the only sophomore on the roster for Martin’s No. 7 FAB 50 squad, but Larkins pitched like a seasoned veteran when the team topped Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) 5-2 in the third game of a best-of-three playoff series. Larkins keyed the win by striking out 13 batters and pitching out of jams. He improved to 10-0 for the season with a 1.25 ERA. Martin advanced to the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since 1993.
WEST
Luke Eubank, Newbury Park (Calif.)
He didn’t get his fourth no-hitter of the season, but this senior will gladly take a three-hitter at Dodger Stadium and leading his team to the CIF Southern Section Division I title. Eubank, who had eight strikeouts and no walks, was the difference in Newbury Park’s 3-1 victory against Corona (Calif.). Earlier in the week, he closed out the Panthers’ 5-2 win over previous FAB 50 No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) with two scoreless innings of relief. For the season, Eubank finished 11-0 with two saves and an ERA of approximately 1.01.