Two baseball players at Illinois schools have been named to the NCBWA Division II preseason All-Region Team in the Midwest Region.
Senior outfielder Mike Bolling from Lewis University was named to the First Team of the Midwest Region. Mike is a transfer from Triton College, attended Guerin Prep HS and lives in Chicago Illinois. Bolling led the conference in stolen bases last season with 31.
Senior closer Brian Thompson from Quincy University was named to the NCBWA Second Team of the Midwest Region. Brian went to Monmouth-Roseville HS and lives in Monmouth Illinois. Thompson led the nation in saves last season with 16.
Quincy University baseball, along with Southern Indiana, has been chosen as the favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference for 2012. Quincy earned 114 points in the voting and is the clear favorite in the West Division ranking ahead of Drury. The University of Illinois at Springfield was picked to finish last in the West.
Quincy finished 2011 capturing the GLVC Tournament Title and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament for the first time since 2006. Quincy finished the 2011 season with a 35-20 record.
Quincy and Lewis will battle in the first round of the 2011 Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Tournament at noon on Thursday at GSC Ballpark in Sauget Illinois.
The GLVC Tourney is broken up into two brackets, one being played at GSC Ballpark in Sauget Illinois and the other being played at the University of St. Louis Missouri baseball field. The entire bracket can be found by following the link below.
2011 GLVC Baseball Tournament
The Quincy University Hawks baseball team clinched a spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Tournament by sweeping Rockhurst University yesterday 4-0 and 4-2.
Hawk pitcher Mitchell Fairley (Quincy Illinois) improved to 5-3 by going 8 innings, allowing no runs with 8 strikeouts in game one. Outfielder Mitchell Broughton (Centralia Illinois) with a single up the middle driving in two runs in the top of the seventh.
In game two Dan Entzeroth (St. Charles MO.) homered, Rich Ruff (Chicago Illinois) picked up his 6th win and Brian Thompson (Monmouth Illinois) picked up his 14th save of the season.
Lewis University baseball ups their record to 7-3 with a 15-9 win over Christian Brothers on Sunday. Lewis trailed 5-4 going into the top of the seventh where the Flyers put up a nine spot to take a 13-5 lead. After Lewis loaded the bases with a single, a walk and a bunt, Brian Norwood (Lake Park High School) blasted a grand slam. Senior Tyler Newsome (Marist High School, South Suburban College) went 5-5 with a homer and three rbi's.
The Qunicy University Hawks baseball team fell to 3-8 on the season dropping a twin bill 3-2 and 10-1 against Delta State in Cleveland Mississippi yesterday. In game one Chris Conner (Lenexa Kansas) went 4 1/3rd innings giving up five hits and two earned runs. In game two Gavin Meyer (Crystal Lake South) went 2-4.
The University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars stand at 2-7 on the season after yesterday's double header was cancelled against Clarke College in Dubuque Iowa. On Sunday the Prairie Stars jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Wisconsin Parkside but Parkside took the lead for good in the sixth dropping the Stars 9-6. Marc Mantucca (Naperville Central High School) went 2-4 with 2 rbi's, Marshall Escue (Washington High School) was 2-4 with a double and an rbi, Adam Unes (Brimfield High School) 2-5 with a double and 2 rbi's.
The Quincy University Hawks got their first win of the 2011 season on Saturday with a 12-5 victory over Ouachita Baptist University.
Quincy put the game out of reach in the third scoring six runs on five hits which included a three run homer by center fielder Dan Entzeroth. Caleb Zang earned the win on the mound, 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 K's.
Division II Mid-West Region Pre-Season All-Americans prepared by the American Baseball Coaches Association's NCAA D2 All-American Baseball Committee. Listed below are the players from Illinois.
Pre-Season All-Americans
3B/SS - Sean Estand, Saint Joseph's College, Eastern Illinois University, St. Rita High School, lives in Evergreen Park IL. Sean led the Pumas with 12 home runs, hit .347, and stole 21 bases last season.
RHP - Eric Panick, Saint Joseph's College, St. Rita High School, lives in Chicago IL. Eric went 4-1 with 1.38 ERA and struck out 42 in 39 innings last season.
Other Mid-West Region Players to Watch in 2011:
SS - Andrew Trepel, Grand Valley State University, Minooka High School, lives in Joliet, IL.
P/OF - Tyler Newsome, Lewis University, Marist High School, lives in Palos Heights, IL.
C - Justin Dunning, Quincy University, Wesclin High School, lives in Trenton, IL.
The Quincy Gems signed local product RHP Travis Ruppel from Qunicy University for the 2010 summer season. Travis, who is currently a Junior at Qunicy University, played two seasons for John Wood Community College and is from Ashland Illinois.
Baseball in Illinois News
Quincy University split their doubleheader Monday beating #5 Grand Valley State 5-1 in game one and losing 3-1 in game two. In Game one Greg Van Leer went 3-3 with 3 rbi's, Wade Koester 2-2 and Justin Ritchart went 2-3. Mike Mueller went the distance allowing six hits in seven innings.
In game two Brandon England went 2-3 and Caleb Zang pitched 6 strong innings giving up one earned run and striking out two.
Baseball in Illinois News
courtesy Quincy U
The Quincy University baseball team opened up their 2010 season by taking three of four games against Truman State University on Friday and Saturday. The Hawks won both games of a doubleheader on Friday, 6-0 and 7-4 and split on Saturday falling 7-5 but rebounding with a 7-4 win.
Hawk newcomer Mike Mueller picked up the Hawks' first win of the season, going six innings and allowing just two hits while striking out six and pitching the shutout. Greg Van Leer and Wade Koester paced Quincy with two hits and one RBI each. Brian Lupa picked up the win in game two for Quincy, going 3 1/3 innings and allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out four. Koester pounded out another three hits in game two while Van Leer went 2-for-2 with three RBI and Dan Entzeroth and Matt Scoggins each adding two hits.
On Saturday the Hawks dropped the first game 7-5 with Brian Thompson suffering the loss, going 3 1/3 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. Koester picked up a home run in the game and added three runs batted in while Scoggins finished 3-for-3. The Hawks closed out the day with a 7-4 win as Caleb Zang picked up the win on the mound, going five innings and allowing three earned runs while Travis Ruppel recorded the save. Van Leer ripped a grand slam home run in the game while Fabian Oeschle added a solo home run and Brandon England finished 2-for-3 with a triple.
From Baseball in Illinois News Sources
The American Baseball Coaches Association has picked the 2010 pre-season all-americans for Division II. Following are the players in the midwest region that are from Illinois:
Pre-Season All-Americans - Midwest Region
SS Sean Estand - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Sean graduated from St. Rita High School and lives in Evergreen Park, Illinois.
Players to Watch - Midwest Region
P Joe Scumaci - Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois - Joe graduated from St. Laurence High School, attended Trition College and lives in Chicago, Illinois.
P/1B - Tyler Choate - Southern Indiana - Tyler graduated from Carmi-White High School and lives in Carmi, Illinois.
OF - Nate Weglarz - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Nate graduated from Homewood Flossmor High School, attended Parkland College and lives in Homewood, Illinois.
DH/INF - Brett Zurliene - Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois - Brett graduated from Breese Central High School, attended Kaskaskia Community College and lives in Aviston, Illinois.
Newcomers to Watch
P Matt Frahm - Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois - Matt graduated from Olympia High School and lives in McLean, Illinois.
P Steve Styck - St. Joseph's in Indiana - Steve graduated from Herscher High School, attended Joliet Junior College and lives in Kankakee, Illinois.
P Mike Mueller - Qunicy University in Quincy, Illinois - Mike attended Southwestern Illinois College and lives in Belleville, Illinois.
