Schmeltz, Lavisky Garner OCCAC Baseball Player, Pitcher Awards

By Nicholas Huenefeld/OCCAC Sports Information

Jake Schmeltz and Max Lavisky have been voted the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) player and pitcher of the week, respectively, in baseball.

Schmeltz, a sophomore first baseman for Owens Community College (23-10 overall, 6-2 OCCAC), batted .609 (14-for-23) last week with a .625 on base percentage. Aside from his averages, he totaled nine runs, three doubles, one triple, 12 RBI, one walk and four stolen bases.

In four conference games against Edison, Schmeltz hit .611 (11-for-18) with eight runs, three doubles, one triple, 11 RBI and three stolen bases.

Schmeltz is now leading Owens in batting average at .387 this year, and he has also produced 30 runs, six doubles, one triple, 25 RBI, 10 walks and 14 stolen bases in 30 games played.

The Owens baseball team will host Lakeland Community College this weekend before closing out conference play against Cuyahoga Community College next weekend.

Lavisky, a freshman pitcher for Cuyahoga Community College, tossed another complete game for the Challengers. In a win over Lakeland Community College, the righty picked up the win after allowing just three hits and two walks, while striking out seven over six innings.

Overall, Lavisky is currently 7-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 36.2 innings pitched. He tossed a no-hitter two starts ago in a five inning win over Clark State Community College. Furthermore, after losing his first start of the season, he has reeled off seven straight wins.

Cuyahoga is now 33-10 overall and 8-0 in OCCAC play. Since losing a pair of games to Patrick Henry Community College on March 18, they have won 26 of their past 28 games. They are ranked No. 12 in the nation and will host No. 3 Sinclair Community College in a crucial four-game series this weekend.

OCCAC Race

There is plenty to watch over the next two weekends as the OCCAC race winds down. While Cuyahoga is 8-0 in OCCAC play, Sinclair enters the weekend 10-2 in OCCAC play. It will be the final conference games of the season for Sinclair, while Cuyahoga still has a four game series next weekend against Owens. While Sinclair and Cuyahoga play this weekend, Owens (6-2) will host Lakeland (2-10). The three teams are battling for the OCCAC championship, while Lakeland is looking to play spoiler, and what happens this weekend could possibly set up an even bigger series next weekend between Owens and Cuyahoga.