When the Pac-10 announced its all-conference baseball team on May 31, it didn't include ASU senior catcher Tuffy Gosewisch.
After Gosewisch's performance in the Tempe Regional over the weekend, the league might want to reconsider its selections.
Gosewisch went 6-for-12 from the plate with a region-high 10 RBIs and four doubles during ASU's three-game weekend victories, earning region Co-Most Outstanding Player honors with ASU junior lefthander Erik Averill.
"This kid is a real underrated ball player," ASU coach Pat Murphy said. "When the Pac-10 teams were announced Tuffy didn't get any accolades (because) the position he plays is kind of an unsung position. Unless you follow the game in-depth, you don't realize how important that guy is behind the dish.
"He is like the quarterback of our team, and he handles it really well."
Gosewisch had a double and two RBIs against East Carolina Friday, going 1-for-3 at the plate. On Saturday against Coastal Carolina, he went 3-for-5 with 7 RBIs and two doubles. He went 2-for-4 in Sunday's region finale against Coastal Carolina, adding another RBI and double.
Gosewisch said the secret to his weekend success was patience at the plate.
"When I go up there I'm not trying to get a hit," Gosewisch said. "I'm just trying to get a pitch that is up and put a pretty good swing on it. I try not to worry about what the outcome is. Whether I hit a line drive at somebody or get a hit, I'm just trying to get a good swing on it."
Gosewisch had plenty of good swings during the regional, but one in particular defined his weekend.
After falling behind 0-2 in the count in the top of the third against Coastal Carolina Saturday, he battled back to get a two-RBI double to left field on a 2-2 count, giving ASU a 4-2 lead.
Coastal Carolina sophomore lefthander Andy DeLaGarza threw 10 pitches in the at-bat.
"With two strikes, I was just trying to battle," Gosewisch said. "I was trying to make him throw more pitches at me so that I could get a pitch that I could finally hit. I saw it early and I got the head on it. It was just a constant battle."
Gosewisch's performance at the plate wasn't just a weekend wonder. He is batting .323 and leads ASU with 67 RBIs this season.
Gosewisch's glove joined his bat in the act throughout the weekend, as he continued his almost flawless play behind the plate by staying in front of difficult pitches and making difficult plays look routine.
In 59 games this season, Gosewisch has just two errors and one passed ball. He has thrown out the runner in 25 of 39 stolen base attempts.
Murphy said Gosewisch's performance was the kind he had come to expect.
"Tuffy came up big," Murphy said. "He was sensational on both ends. He's done so much for our team that doesn't show up in the box score. It goes unnoticed how much he does for our ball club."
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.
