Kirtley Chosen as DAC Pitcher of Week

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College North Lake baseball's Branden Kirtley was selected as the Dallas Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

A sophomore right-hander from Santa Rosa, California, Kirtley won the first game of the series at second-ranked Dallas College Eastfield, helping to vault North Lake into the Top 5 of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll. He worked five innings in the 7-4 victory over the Harvester Bees, striking out five and allowing two runs on three hits and three walks. His outing helped set the tone to hand Eastfield its first league loss of the season.

It was Kirtley's first win of the year, and lowered his earned run average to 3.00 with 26 strikeouts in four starts, six appearances and 21 innings pitched.

Following No. 4 North Lake's nonconference game against Vernon College at home Monday, the Blazers (15-11, 6-3 DAC) are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Temple College Wednesday. The following Wednesday, they resume league play at Dallas College Mountain View (7-16, 2-7).