Briefs: ‘Eaters’ Thurman honored

UC Irvine sophomore Andrew Thurman, who produced the school’s fifth no-hitter on Friday against Long Beach State, was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week and the National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball.

Just six days after taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Cal State Fullerton, Thurman completed the feat against the Dirtbags at Blair Field. He struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. He threw 110 pitches, 67 for strikes, to post his first complete game.

Thurman hit the first batter then retired the next 23 before giving up a walk with two outs in the eighth. With only one run and one hit allowed in his last 17 innings, he has lowered his earned-run average to 3.26. He is now 4-2.

Thurman was named Big West Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 8, after flirting with his aforementioned no-hitter against then-No. 12-ranked Cal State Fullerton.

Thurman, a right-hander, gave up an infield single to start the ninth inning. He walked the next batter and was then removed for a reliever. But he eventually earned the win in a 4-1 verdict.

He struck out six to share the honor with Dayne Quist of UC Davis, who tossed a three-hit shutout against Pacific.

Thurman was also named a Prime-time performer by College Baseball 360. This award takes into account an athlete’s contribution not only in statistics, but in other qualities including leadership skills and team success.

— From staff reports

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Conlogue a victor

Courtney Conlogue, a Sage Hill School graduate, earned her first victory on the Assn. of Surfing Professionals Women’s World Tour on Saturday, topping the field at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic on Dee Why Beach in Sydney, Australia.

Conlogue, who had won multiple ASP Six-Star events, pocketed $30,000 for the win and moves into fourth on the ASP world rankings.

Conlogue’s final score was 13.17, giving her the decision over Malia Manuel of Hawaii, who totaled 11.56 points.

— From staff reports

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Fuerbringer shines

Matt Fuerbringer, a former volleyball and basketball star at Estancia High, teamed with Nick Lucena to finish second at the Brasilia Open beach volleyball tournament on Sunday in Brazil.

Fuerbringer and Lucena, the No. 4-seeded team, was defeated, 21-17, 21-18, in 44 minutes by the top-seeded duo of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.

It was the third time the two teams met in a Federation International de Volleyball SWATCH World Tour final. Dalhausser and Rogers are 3-0 in those matches and 6-1 against Fuerbringer and Lucena in FIVB SWATCH events.

It was the fifth final appearance in 24 World Tour events for Fuerbringer and Lucena.

Dalhausser and Rogers split $30,000, while Fuerbringer and Lucena shared $21,000.

— From staff reports

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Irrelevant week contest offered

Guess who will go No. 253, the last player chosen in the NFL Draft on April 28, and you can win $253.

The winner of the Mr. Irrelevant XXXVII contest will also be a guest during the Lowsman Trophy All-Star Banquet in Newport Beach on June 13 and receive a prize basket.

You can enter the contest in four ways. You can email your pick to irrelevantweek@gmail.com, tweet it: @irrelevantweek, post it on the Facebook Irrelevant Week fan page, or mail it: 3723 Birch St., Suite 11, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

Include your draft selection, your name, email or phone number. If there is a tie, the winner will be selected by coin flip.

Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, the day before the NFL Draft begins.

— From staff reports

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Ex-Sailor advances

Newport Harbor High product Kirby Burnham, a 6-foot-2 sophomore at USC, has been selected to compete in the pairs competition at the first American Volleyball Coaches’ Assn. collegiate sand volleyball national championship, Friday through Sunday in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Burnham, paired with Kelly Irvin, finished fifth in the USAV Collegiate Challenge completed April 15 in Hermosa Beach. Burnham and Irvin began the season playing as USC’s No. 3 team, but moved up to the No. 2 spot by mid-season. They are 19-12.

The pairs championship will consist of 16 doubles teams, which will begin in pool play on the opening day. Seeding will then be determined for a single-elimination tournament to decide a national champion.

Women’s sand volleyball is in its inaugural season as an NCAA-sponsored “emerging” sport and approximately 20 schools field teams. The sport has 10 years to build to at least 40 schools who field teams for at least two consecutive years in order to become established as an NCAA championship sport. Otherwise, the NCAA will conduct a reclassification review of the sport.

— From staff reports