Fourth consecutive Region 4 championship required extra work for Madison College

MADISON, WISC. - The top seeds of the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division II Baseball Tournament were tested from the start to the end, however, in the end, it was top-seeded Madison College that remained atop the competition for the tenth time since joining the region in 2010. The WolfPack needed two wins over third-seeded McHenry County College in the championship round, and did just that with victories of 5-1 and 7-4 to advance to the 2022 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series in Enid, Oklahoma, from May 28-June 4. Outfielder Eli Kramer was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player after batting .428 with nine hits, including three doubles, five walks, four runs scored, and two runs batted in. The Region 4 Coach of the Year award went to Mike Davenport for the tenth time.

The collision course between Madison College and McHenry County College began with a pair of wins in the quarterfinals, with the WolfPack getting past fourth-seeded Black Hawk College 3-0 and the Scots upsetting second-seeded Kankakee Community College 4-0. After BHC upset and eliminated the Cavaliers, McHenry County hammered the hosts with a 16-6 decision in the rain. Forced into an elimination game, and to a new venue due to wet conditions, Madison College answered the bell with a 9-1 victory over the Braves to set up a rematch with the Scots.

Madison College used a three-run second inning to take control of the championship opener, which saw pitcher Carson Fluno strike out 11 batters and infielder Jake Nelson go 3 for 3 with three RBI. In the winner-take-all final, MCC took a 4-2 lead in the sixth, but a lead-off home run by Gabe Roessler in the bottom half began the WolfPack rally. A bases-clearing double from Nelson put Madison College on top in the seventh.

2022 Region 4 Division II Most Valuable Player
Eli Kramer - Madison College

2022 Region 4 Division II Coach of the Year
Mike Davenport - Madison College