Ward And Hotmer Capture OCCAC Honors, Ruch Named Team MVP

Chris Ward was named First Team All-OCCAC in his first year with the Express after transferring in from Cleveland State. He struck out 44 in 33.2 innings of OCCAC play. Photo courtesy of Cherie Guthrie/Owens Sports Information
Chris Ward was named First Team All-OCCAC in his first year with the Express after transferring in from Cleveland State. He struck out 44 in 33.2 innings of OCCAC play. Photo courtesy of Cherie Guthrie/Owens Sports Information
Posted: May 19, 2012

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---The Express baseball team announced postseason honors recently as four players captured various awards.

Chris Ward and Ryan Hotmer were named First Team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).

Ward went 1-2 with a 4.01 ERA in OCCAC play. More impressively, he struck out 44 in 33.2 innings pitched as the team's top starter. On March 31, he struck out 12 in a no decision over eight innings against Lakeland CC, while he struck out 14 over seven innings against Lakeland on April 27. He added nine strikeouts against Cuyahoga CC on April 6.

Hotmer led the Express offense in OCCAC play with a .360 batting average. He added 10 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, 17 RBIs and three stolen bases. This year marked Hotmer's second consecutive All-OCCAC honor.

Clayton Ruch was named the team's most valuable player. Hotmer also captured the team's outstanding offensive award and Dane Davis was named the team's outstanding pitcher.

Although he finished 0-2, Ruch set the program's single season save record with seven, while leading the Express in ERA at 1.93. He struck out 13 in 14 innings pitched. Davis went 5-2 with a 3.21 ERA, while striking out 23 in 33.2 innings pitched.

In all games, Hotmer had a team-high .329 batting average to go along with 15 runs, 14 doubles, one triple, 24 RBIs and five stolen bases.