WE START TODAY WITH COLLEGE BASEBALL WHERE OREGON STATE SLUGGER AND JUNIOR JACOB MELTON EARNED THE PAC-12 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR' HONOR YESTERDAY.

MELTON, WHO REBOUNDED FROM A SEASON-ENDING SHOULDER INJURY AND SURGERY LAST YEAR, HAS LED THE BEAVERS TO A 41-AND-13 RECORD THIS YEAR AND FINISHING 2ND-PLACE IN THE REGULAR SEASON TO STANFORD.

MELTON, A SOUTH MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, LEADS THE BEAVERS WITH A (.361) THREE SIXTY-ONE BATTING AVERAGE, A (.702) A SEVEN OH-TWO SLUGGING PERCENTAGE, 15-HOME RUNS, AND 20-DOUBLES.

HE'S ALSO ONE OF 30 SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE 'GOLDEN SPIKES' AWARD WHICH IS COLLEGE BASEBALL'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, AND SIMILAR TO THE HEISMAN TROPHY AWARD IN FOOTBALL.

MELTON AND THE BEAVERS BEGIN THE PAC-12 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT TODAY IN SCOTTSDALE FACING WASHINGTON WITH FIRST PITCH SET FOR 445.

OREGON OPENS THE TOURNEY AT 930 THIS MORNING FACING ARIZONA, FOLLOWED BY STANFORD MEETING ARIZONA STATE, AND THE NIGHT CAP IS UCLA FACING CAL.