Sheppard, Palma Named DAC Players of Week

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College Eastfield's Benjamin Sheppard and Sebastian Palma were named the Dallas Athletic Conference Baseball Players of the Week. Sheppard earned the DAC Pitcher of the Week, and Palma the Hitter of the Week.

Sheppard received the honor for a second consecutive week, while Palma claimed the award for the fourth time this season.

A sophomore lefty from Forney, Texas, Sheppard worked seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks, and struck out six to earn the win over Dallas College Brookhaven. He rode a no-hitter into the seventh inning on the way to his fifth victory of the season.

Sheppard (5-0) has a 2.89 earned run average and 24 strikeouts in nine appearances, five of which are starts.

A sophomore third baseman from Dallas, Palma hit .667 with three home runs, a double, nine runs batted in, six runs scored, three walks and two stolen bases as the National Junior College Athletic Association Divison III No. 2-ranked Harvester Bees won two of three games from the Bears. He homered in each of the three games. In the first game, he had a home run, double, four RBI, a stolen base and went 3 for 4 with two walks in a 26-13 victory. Palma followed that up with a 3-for-3 day at the plate in which he homered, and had three RBI, a walk and a stolen base a 7-4 victory. In the series finale, he was 2 for 4 with a homer and two RBI.

Palma is batting .409 with a nation-leading 16 home runs and 60 RBI.

Eastfield (27-9, 12-3 DAC) plays a nonconference game at Hill College 1 p.m. Monday before beginning the second round of DAC play at home against Dallas College Cedar Valley.