By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Kyle Bennett (Grove City/Grove City, Ohio), a freshman left handed pitcher for Owens Community College, has been voted the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Co-Pitcher of the Year.

Bennett led this year's Owens team with a 6-1 record and a 2.26 ERA. He also led the team in innings pitched (59.2) and strikeouts (47). In OCCAC play, Bennett was 5-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 41 innings pitched. He struck out 36 over six starts.

Bennett also led the OCCAC in innings pitched, ERA, complete games (6) and starts. He was fourth in the conference in strikeouts. Additionally, Bennett never threw more than 80 pitches in any conference start while walking only four batters.

All-OCCAC

Along with Bennett, freshmen Charlie Sipe (Northrop/Fort Wayne, Ind.), Tiger Jaso (Lakota/Kansas, Ohio) and Alec Skender (Metamora/Metamora, Ill.) all earned a spot on the All-OCCAC team.

Sipe hit .371 (23-for-62) in conference play with 17 runs, eight doubles, two triples, 12 walks, 19 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Jaso hit .324 (23-for-71) with 17 runs, four doubles, one triple, three walks, one stolen base and nine RBIs in conference play.

Skender hit .319 (22-for-69) in conference play, while adding 20 runs, two doubles, one triple, 10 walks, two stolen bases and nine RBIs.

Notes

Bennett is the third pitcher in Owens baseball history to take home OCCAC pitcher of the year honors. He is the first since Nate Cress in 2009, while Ajay Meyer also won the award in 2008.

The Owens baseball team finished 19-26 overall and 10-13 in OCCAC play, which was good for a second place finish. Their season came to an end in the Sub-Region XII tournament this past weekend. However, their top six hitters were all freshmen, so good things are on the horizon.