The Tartan Pride softball and baseball teams reached the end of their regular season, picking up an overwhelming number of awards in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
Both teams also won the OCCAC Championship, and the softball squad made it to the World Series for the first time in its history.
They opened World Series play as the #11 seed against St. Louis Community College in Clinton, Missouri on May 22, defeating the Archers in an 8-1 blowout. The Lady Pride take on the Phoenix College Bears in the second round of tournament play May 23.
The Tartan Pride baseball team finished the season with a record of 51-10 (27-1 in conference play) and won their third OCCAC championship in a row. It is their ninth title in the last 11 seasons.
The softball team ended their regular season 31-14 (14-2 in the conference). Their capturing of the OCCAC title was a bit sweeter, as the last time they earned it was in 1991, nearly three decades ago.
They bested Jackson College and Lake Michigan College to win the NJCAA Division II District I Tournament to punch their ticket to the World Series.
Baseball held the #3 ranking in the NJCAA Division II for most of the year, leading to the Tartans sweeping the OCCAC Awards.
Head coach Steve Dinatman won Coach of the Year, Mike Sears won Player of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year and AJ Peter won Pitcher of the Year.
Eight baseball players earned all-conference honors as well:
Mike Sears, AJ Peter, Drake Bauer, Jeremiah Clarke, Brandon DeWitt and Alex Jacobs earned OCCAC 1st Team honors. Additionally, Matt Meyer and Alex Theis achieved OCCAC 2nd Team Honors.
Sears, Bauer and DeWitt were placed on the All-Freshman Team.
Conversely, softball head coach Steve Beachler was named OCCAC Coach of the Year, and Cierra Chastain, Kenedie Cox, Hailey McEldowney and Bailey Pennington earned OCCAC 1st Team Honors.
Sophomore Ashley Brown earned the highest honors, making the OCCAC 1st Team, capturing the Pitcher of the Year award and being named the Most Valuable Player in the NJCAA District I Tournament.
Brown, Cox, McEldowney and Chastain also made it to the District I All-Tournament Team.
Likewise, for leading the Pride to the OCCAC Championship and their first World Series appearance, Beachler was named the District I Coach of the Year.
While the baseball team’s season was ended at the hands of rival Cuyahoga Community College in an 8-7 loss on May 16, the Tartans had much to be prideful of when it came to academics.
The program saw 21 players earn their degrees, resulting in their third consecutive 100 percent graduation rate.
The 2018-2019 squad set the record for the highest GPA average in the program with a 3.26.
Twenty-five players earned a 3.0, and 15 of those players made the Dean’s List, and two of them were rewarded with a 4.0 for their efforts.
Considering their accomplishments both on and off the field, the Sinclair community has plenty of reasons to be proud of their athletes.
Henry Wolski
Executive Editor