By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The Owens Community College baseball team placed four student-athletes on the 2016 All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) team, led by Grant Peters (Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio), who was named the OCCAC Pitcher of the Year.
Grant Peters
Peters, a sophomore right-handed pitcher, went 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA and three complete games over 26.2 innings pitched. He also added 37 strikeouts while finishing either first or tied for first in most wins, fewest losses, complete games and strikeouts. He was second in ERA.
Earlier this year, Peters was named the OCCAC and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Pitcher of the Week after allowing just three hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 complete game shutout over No. 3 Sinclair Community College. He was the first student-athlete in Owens baseball history to earn the national honor.
Overall, Peters finished 6-2 with a 3.93 ERA over a team-high 50.1 innings pitched. He struck out 58 over nine appearances.
All-OCCAC
In addition to Peters, three other earned All-OCCAC recognition including Jake Schmeltz (Eastwood/Perrysburg, Ohio), Ty Suntken (Wauseon/Wauseon, Ohio) and Casey Gose (Genoa/Genoa, Ohio).
Jake Schmeltz
Schmeltz, a sophomore first baseman, made several outstanding plays defensively throughout the year to save runs. In addition, he hit .382 (21-for-55) with 17 runs, four doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and five walks in conference play. He finished third on the team in hitting over those 16 games and led the team in runs.
Furthermore, Schmeltz was named the OCCAC Player of the Week on April 27 after hitting .609 with nine runs, three doubles, one triple, 12 RBI, one walk and four stolen bases over the previous week.
Overall, Schmeltz finished with a .354 batting average (51-for-144) this year. He scored 41 runs, while adding seven doubles, one triple, 30 RBI, 15 walks and 16 stolen bases.
Ty Suntken
Suntken, a freshman middle infielder who transferred to Owens from NCAA Division I Ohio University, led the team in hitting in conference play at .438 (21-for-48). He added 10 runs, two doubles, one triple, 12 RBI, seven walks and three stolen bases.
Overall, Suntken finished second on the team in hitting at .379 (47-for-124). He added 37 runs, eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 34 RBI, 23 walks and 12 stolen bases. He finished the season with a .488 on base percentage, as well.
Casey Gose
Gose, a sophomore who saw time at second base, shortstop and centerfield this year, finished second on the team in hitting in conference play at .429 (24-for-56). He produced 14 runs, two doubles, six RBI, seven walks and three stolen bases over 16 games.
Moreover, Gose was named the OCCAC's Player of the Week on April 17 after hitting .435 (10-for-23) over six games
In 45 games overall, Gose led the team with a .380 (63-for-166) batting average. He also led the team in runs scored (55), while adding seven doubles, one triple, 32 RBI, 19 walks and a team-high 23 stolen bases.
Notes
The Owens baseball team finished 30-15 overall this year and 11-5 in OCCAC play, which earned them second place in the conference. Their season ended with a loss to Vincennes University in the Sub-Region XII tournament.
It was also the final year of the program after the college announced the suspension of the program beginning with the 2016-17 year due to fiscal reasons.
Stay tuned to OwensExpress.com for news on where these four players, along with many others who will sign with four-year schools.
Cuyahoga Community College's Manny Rodriguez won the OCCAC Player of the Year award, while Cuyahoga's Evan Agona won OCCAC Coach of the Year. The Challengers won the OCCAC title with a 14-2 record. Their only two losses were to Owens.