Oakton captures first Region IV DIII championship

DES PLAINES, ILL. - For the first time in program history, the Oakton Owls baseball team has claimed the 2018 NJCAA Region IV Division III Championship after defeating Elgin Community College by a 10-6 final in game two of the championshp series on Sunday, May 13.

The top-seeded and host Owls opened the double-elimination tournament with a historic effort from pitcher Alex Crinigan, who tossed a no-hitter in a 6-0 defeat of fourth-seeded Joliet Junior College (30-23). Oakton then defeated the second-seeded Chargers (29-20) by a 6-2 final in the semifinals, but Elgin charged back through the loser's bracket to gain a rematch in the championship series and took advantage with a 14-11 decision to force a winner-take-all game two. The Owls took the decisive game, taking full advantage of home runs from Pablo Custodio and Jose Vera Sanchez. Sophomore pitcher Alexander Crinigan was named the Region IV Division III Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Oakton Community College (38-16), which is ranked #6 in the NJCAA Division III Poll, advances to the NJCAA Division III District B Championship and will play Schoolcraft (MI) College (18-30), who won the NJCAA Region XII title. The series will be played May 19-20 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. The winner advances to the NJCAA Division III World Series, May 26-31 in Greeneville, Tennessee.

(Photo courtesy of Oakton Community College Athletics)