Barnes, Ward, Henson and Datil Earn OCCAC Softball, Baseball POTW Honors

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Springfield, Ohio---Justine Barnes, Racquel Ward, Brandon Henson and Jorge Datil comprise the group of four student-athletes who earned player and pitcher of the week recognition in the OCCAC for baseball and softball the week of March 13-19.

OCCAC Softball Player of the Week
Justine Barnes, Lakeland C.C.

Barnes, a freshman shortstop for Lakeland Community College, went 3-for-6 (.500) last week in a doubleheader split against Schoolcraft College. In addition to her average, she produced four runs, one home run, five RBI, two walks and two stolen bases. Her selection gives Lakeland its first player of the week of the season.

Barnes, who has helped lead her team to a 3-1 start to the season with wins over Ohio University - Chillicothe and Schoolcraft College, is batting .357 (5-for-14) this year with seven runs, three home runs, eight RBI, two walks and two stolen bases. She has a .438 on base percentage and is slugging 1.000 so far.

Lakeland will be back in action Thursday at Walsh University JV.

OCCAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Racquel Ward, Cuyahoga C.C.

Ward, a sophomore pitcher for Cuyahoga Community College, earned her third pitcher of the week award of the season with maybe her best week. She went 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA over 29.2 innings while allowing 18 hits and four walks with 32 strikeouts. She made six appearances during the week, including a no decision in relief. Of the four weeks this season, Ward has won three with Shelby Hartzell of Sinclair Community College wining the other one on March 5.

Ward is now 6-1 with a 0.96 ERA this year over eight appearances and 43.2 innings. She has six complete games while striking out 48 and allowing just 43.2 hits. On top of that, she is hitting .421 (16-for-38) from the plate with eight runs, four home runs, 11 RBI, five walks and one stolen base.

Cuyahoga is now 9-5 overall this year. The team will be back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader at CCBC Catonsville.

OCCAC Baseball Player of the Week
Brandon Henson, Sinclair C.C.

Henson, a freshman outfielder for Sinclair Community College, went 6-for-8 (.750) last week while helping to lead his team to three wins over Ohio State - Lima and Muskegon Community College. He produced seven runs, one double, three triples, one home run, three RBI and two walks. His selection marks the third straight week a Sinclair baseball student-athlete has earned player of the week recognition following Azim Qadri on March 12 and Sean Darmafall on March 5.

Henson is now batting .487 (19-for-39) this year with 17 runs, two doubles, five triples, one home run, 11 RBI, eight walks and three stolen bases. He is getting on base at a .560 clip and slugging .872. He leads the team in slugging, on base percentage, batting average, triples, hits and runs.

Sinclair is 10-3 overall this year. They are in action today with a doubleheader against Macomb Community College.

OCCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Jorge Datil, Edison C.C.

Datil, a sophomore pitcher for Edison Community College, threw a complete game shutout over five innings in his team's 10-0 victory over Kishwaukee College last week. He allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out six. His selection gives Edison its first pitcher of the week of the season.

Datil is now 1-0 this year over 6.2 innings. Also among his two appearances is a relief outing against Milwaukee Area Technical College. His team is now 3-1 this year and will be back in action on Thursday at Ohio University - Chillicothe.