Athletes of the Week: Kenny Crawford and Alyse Harris

SBCC Elyse Harris
Santa Barbara High's Kenny Crawford

Kenny Crawford and Alyse Harris got it done on the mound for their respective teams last week.

Crawford threw a two-hitter, leading Santa Barbara High’s baseball team to 2-1 Channel League win over San Marcos. Harris fired a three-hitter and struck out 12 in the Vaqueros’ 7-1 softball victory over Cuesta in a Western State Conference game.

The two hurlers were honored Monday as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athletes of the Week.

Crawford prevailed Jimmy Brakka of San Marcos in a tight pitching duel. The Santa Barbara senior retired six of the last seven batters to secure his third win without a loss.

Crawford’s performance drew a compliment from San Marcos assistant coach Mike Sandford.

“He’s a very good pitcher,” Sandford said. “Being a former pitcher myself, I would call him a pitcher’s pitcher. He doesn’t throw really hard but he locates spots and pitched a great game against us.”

Harris fanned nine of the first 12 batters she faced in the second game of a doubleheader. At one point, she struck out seven in a row.

“Alyse has been rock solid on the mound for us,” said SBCC coach Paula Congleton.

Besides her outstanding pitching performance, Harris, a sophomore from Denver, helped her own cause by hitting a grand slam in the third inning.