Oakton upsets way to fourth-consecutive Region 4 title

JOLIET, ILL. - The run of dominance for Oakton Community College continues with an epic run to the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Baseball Tournament Championship, which culminated in pair of wins over the College of DuPage in the championship series. The fourth-seeded Owls, who won Region 4 crowns in 2018, 2019, and 2021, was led by sophomore pitcher Kyle Moore, as he picked up two wins and struck out 16 batters en route to being named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Bill Fratto received Region 4 Coach of the Year award.

Top-seeded Oakton Community College defeated fifth-seeded Rock Valley College by a 12-4 decision to begin the postseason, marking their only win over a lower-seeded team. Against top-seeded and host Joliet Junior College, the Owls rallied from a 6-2 deficit with five runs over the final two innings to advance to the semifinals with a 7-6 final score. The third-seeded Chaparrals sent OCC to an elimination game with a 13-7 decision, and the Owls responded with a 19-8 drubbing of second-seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College to reach the championship. Moore fanned nine in a complete game win in the championship opener, guiding the three-time defending champs to a 6-2 victory and setting up a winner-take-all finale. A five-run first inning put Oakton CC on the right path to an 8-3 win to claim another Region 4 crown.

Oakton Community College was on to the NJCAA Great Lake District Tournament against Owens Community College (OH), the champions of Region 12. Playing on their home field, the Owls went back-and-forth with their fellow OCC, before securing wins of 11-9 and 9-8 to earn a berth in the 2022 NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series in Greeneville, Tennessee, from May 28-June 2.

2022 Region 4 Division III Most Valuable Player
Kyle Moore - Oakton Community College

2022 Region 4 Division III Coach of the Year
Bill Fratto - Oakton Community College