By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Believe it or not, Spring sports have begun in the OCCAC and the conference’s first Baseball/Softball Athletes of the Week (Feb. 26-March 4) have been awarded. Lakeland’s Kallista Hribar (position player) and Abby Takacs (pitcher) swept the softball accolades while Colin Shepherd of Sinclair picked up baseball player of the week recognition and Cuyahoga’s Doug Smith is the pitcher of the week.
COLIN SHEPHERD
Sinclair Community College
Baseball Position Player of the Week
Shepherd hit .500 (8-16) during a 4-1 opening week for the Tartan Pride of Sinclair Community College. He drove in seven runs and posted a pair of extra-base hits (a double and a triple). Once on the base paths, Shepherd swiped two bags and scored a run in four different games. He stepped it up in a series victory over No. 18 McHenry, going 7-for-13 (.538) with three straight multi-hit games and a half dozen RBI.
KALLISTA HRIBAR
Lakeland Community College
Softball Position Player of the Week
Hribar tore through Lakeland’s two opponents in the 2018 season’s first week of action. She batted 3-for-4 in both victorious contests, scoring five runs total and drove in five more scores in a 19-11 slugfest at OU-Chillicothe. Her blowup at OU-Chillicothe included a homerun and double.
DOUG SMITH
Cuyahoga Community College
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Smith made his long-awaited return to the mound after missing the entire 2017 season because of injury. It was a triumphant comeback for Smith and Challengers, tossing four scoreless innings to earn the win on opening day at Guilford Tech. His solid start included seven strikeouts, a lone hit and one free pass to jump start Cuyahoga’s 4-0 week.
ABBY TAKACS
Lakeland Community College
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Takacs hurled four shutout frames in the season opener vs. Wilmington College JV. She earned the win by scattering three hits and a walk while fanning two batters.