By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Haley Kreger and Kailey Minarchick have been named the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) player and pitcher of the week recipients, respectively, in softball.

Kreger, a former soccer player at Owens Community College, joined the Owens softball team last year and has been used as a pinch runner primarily. Last week, Owens took on Lakeland in a doubleheader looking to clinch the OCCAC championship outright.

Kreger got the start in the second game and delivered. She finished 2-for-3, but produced the game-tying RBI hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to help her team come back from a 3-1 deficit. In that game alone, she doubled her career hit total.

Minarchick, a freshman right-handed pitcher for Owens Community College, tossed another gem in the circle in a 4-0 win over Lakeland Community College. In seven innings, she struck out 11 and allowed just seven hits and zero walks. 

In OCCAC play, Minarchick finished with a 7-0 record, along with one save. She recorded a 1.00 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched. 

Minarchick is 14-6 overall this year with three saves in 27 appearances. She has 124 strikeouts in 127.2 innings and sports a 1.48 ERA.

Owens is currently 25-12 overall and 10-0 in OCCAC play. They won the conference championship and will head to regionals May 11-13 in Columbus.