By
Allen Wagner
April 21, 2009
1. Arizona State: After sweeping Stanford in convincing fashion, the Sun Devils should be scheduled to host a regional by the time the NCAA tournament comes around. Jason Kipnis-watch: .410 batting average, 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 36 games.
2. USC: The Trojans played the Beavers tough in Corvallis, winning two pitcher-dominated games. But the gap between ASU and the teams below is so big that nobody will catch the Sun Devils at this point.
3. Oregon State: It was close, but a 10th-inning run scored by Koa Kahalehoe Sunday gave the Beavers the series win over USC. That was enough to put them in a two-way tie for second in the conference standings. Looks like they’re slowly returning to their mid-decade glory days.
4. UCLA: Can’t say that Washington is tough competition, but in order to make the NCAA tournament, teams have to prove they can sweep the bottom-feeders at home, something that the Bruins accomplished with ease.
5. Washington State: The Cougars swept Arizona during the weekend to move into a tie for second place with Oregon State at 8-4 in conference play. But all three games against the woeful Wildcats were one-run wins at home — nothing to brag about.
6. Stanford: The Cardinal’s season looked so promising until it ran into the Sun Devils. It must suck to move from second place to sixth in three games.
7. California: Danny Oh and Mark Canha continued their eternal quest to catch up to Kipnis in the “best player in the conference” category — and helped the Bears take two games from Oregon — but it’s going to take a miracle to fully recover from getting swept by Washington two weeks ago.
8. Washington: The Huskies weren’t even competitive against the Bruins this weekend. Kyle Conley was held to one hit in 11 at-bats and the Dawgs managed five runs in three games. Good news: A series against Oregon awaits.
9. Oregon: The Ducks managed to win a game this weekend and gain a little respect in their first season back since 1981, which is more than you could say about Arizona.
10. Arizona: Already 3-9 in conference play before the weekend, the Wildcats were swept by the Cougars, falling to 3-12. Arizona will at least close out the rest of its season with series against the No. 6 through No. 9 teams in this list.
Reach reporter Allen Wagner at sports@dailyuw.com.
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