Lipka, Ellis claim weekly honors

PEARL, MS-Outfielder Matt Lipka and RHP Chris Ellis have been named Mississippi Farm Bureau Player and Pitcher of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 10.

Through the first four games of the season, Lipka has a .412 batting average with a double, triple and an RBI. He's currently slugging .588. Lipka spent last season at Double-A Mississippi after missing most of 2013 with an injury. In 119 games last season, he posted a .246 average with 45 runs, 26 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Lipka was selected by the Braves in the supplemental round of the 2010 draft out of McKinney High School (TX).

Ole Miss alumnus Chris Ellis tossed six shutout innings in his Mississippi Braves debut Friday night, holding the Blue Wahoos to just four hits and leading the M-Braves to a 2-0 victory over Pensacola. The Braves No. 15 prospect struck out eight batters, throwing 65 of his 85 pitches for strikes, to pick up his first win. The Alabama native was acquired by the Braves along with Erick Aybar, Sean Newcomb and cash from the LA Angels in exchange for Andrelton Simmons and Jose Briceno on November 12, 2015.

The M-Braves conclude the first homestand of the season with today's series finale against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. First pitch is slated for 10:35 AM and pits RHP Brandon Barker against Blue Wahoos righty Rookie Davis. The Braves travel to Montgomery for five games before returning to Trustmark Park for a 10-game homestand April 17-26.