By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Three of four OCCAC Spring Athlete of the Week honorees for April 16-22 are repeat customers while Cuyahoga’s Santiago Ramirez earns his first career Pitcher of the Week accolade. Softball selections Kallista Hribar (Lakeland; position player) and Alexis Strother (Sinclair; pitcher) both pick up their third award this season and Colin Shepherd (position player) from Sinclair snags his second.
COLIN SHEPHERD
Sinclair Community College
Baseball Position Player of the Week
Shepherd batted an even .500 (8-16) with three doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored as the Tartan Pride went 4-0 last week to improve to 28-8 overall and sit atop the conference standings at 12-2. He recorded at least one hit and one run in all four victories, posting a double and stolen base in three of four. Also named OCCAC Position Player of the Week on March 5.
KALLISTA HRIBAR
Lakeland Community College
Softball Position Player of the Week
Hribar slugged a triple, two homeruns and eight RBI during a 3-1 week for the Lakers. She scored six runs after hitting .583 (7-12) and drawing four walks. Hribar posted multiple hits and drove in at least one run in all three Lakeland wins. Also named OCCAC Position Player of the Week on March 12 and Apr. 9.
SANTIAGO RAMIREZ
Cuyahoga Community College
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Ramirez notched the win in both starts spanning a total of 10.2 innings. He did not allow a single run in either outing and struck out a total of 10 batters. Ramirez began the week with a five-inning complete game one-hitter over Edison State before coming back with 5.2 more innings worth of goose eggs in a 4-0 triumph over Eastern Gateway. He was able to dance around eight walks and five hits to keep the opposition scoreless.
Cuyahoga has now secured three OCCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week awards in a row, registered by three different Challengers (Brock Begue – Apr. 9; Doug Smith – Apr. 16).
ALEXIS STROTHER
Sinclair Community College
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Strother tallies her third OCCAC Pitcher of the Week recognition of 2018 (March 12, Apr. 9) following 13.2 innings worked over the span of three appearances (two starts). She went 2-0 while allowing six runs on 14 hits and two walks while fanning 18 batters.