Joe Vranesh is met after his go-ahead, three-run home run. (Shotgun Spratling)

WCC Dispatches: LMU in Driver’s Seat; BYU on Bubble

STOCKTON, Calif. — Joe Vranesh is not your typical leadoff hitter.

He’s more Brian Urlacher than Brett Gardner. The 6’2″, 200-pound Saint Mary’s outfielder takes the diamond with a football mentality, which makes sense since he played linebacker at De La Salle High, which is consistently one of the top high school football programs in the country. Vranesh had 134 tackles his final two years for the Spartans.

“I think it’s made me tougher as a player, tougher on the field and maybe I play a little looser, more athletic. I think it helps me,” Vranesh says of his football[…]