USA Baseball named Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman winner of the Richard “Dick” W. Case award on Friday.

The award is given to the annually to the top player for last year’s USA nationally baseball teams.

Rutschman played nine games last summer with the Collegiate National Team, batting .355 with nine doubles. He was cited in USA Baseball’s announcement for being the “quintessential teammate and an undisputed leader in the clubhouse while also exemplifying sportsmanship and love of the game throughout the summer.”

He joined the Collegiate National Team immediately after helping lead the Beavers to the 2018 NCAA title. Rustschman was named the Most Outstanding player of the College World Series.

The Beavers open the 2019 season on Feb. 15 against New Mexico in Surprise, Arizona.

-- Ken Goe