Baseball
Region 4 Announces Spring 2023 All-Region Teams
June 13, 2023
The NJCAA Region 4 has announced the numerous recipients of All-Region accolades for student-athletes competing in the Spring 2023 season, including those voted Region 4 Player or Athlete of the Year in their respective sport and division.
72 Region 4 Spring Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA All-American
June 13, 2023
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has released its list of All-Americans for the 2022-23 spring sports season, and 72 student-athletes representing Region 4 were recognized. The group includes 27 from men's and women's track & field, ten from baseball, and four each from men's golf and softball. There are 16 first team recipients, 19 second team honorees, five third team selections, and 12 honorable mention distinctions. The student-athletes represent nine Region 4 institutions.
Triton great Kirby Puckett to be enshrined in NJCAA Foundation Hall of Fame
June 08, 2023
Just one Hall of Fame isn't enough to contain the late Kirby Puckett's contributions to Triton College, national junior-college athletics, the Minnesota Twins and the game of baseball.
Joliet, Madison come up empty in NJCAA World Series appearances
June 02, 2023
GREENEVILLE, TENN. & ENID, OKLA. - It was a short stay for the two Region 4 representatives at two of the three NJCAA Baseball World Series in 2023. Joliet Junior College was eliminated in two games at the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series at Pioneer Park, while perennial power Madison College suffered the same fate at the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
Madison makes it five straight Region 4 crowns
May 25, 2023
MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College baseball dynasty continues to roll on, adding a fifth straight and 11th total NJCAA Region 4 Division II Tournament Championship on May 20. The top-seeded WolfPack finished off a perfect run through the Region 4 field with a 14-8 victory over second-seeded McHenry County College. Scots sophomore Mason Schwalbach smashed seven home runs over four games, including three bombs in the championship game. Mike Davenport of Madison College was given the Region 4 Coach of the Year award.
South Suburban makes it three straight Region 4 championships, Ruzich surpasses 1,300 wins
May 24, 2023
RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The South Suburban College baseball team accomplished two major feats at the 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division I Tournament: winning a third straight championship and pushing coach Steve Ruzich past 1,300 career wins. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents by a 35-13 margin over three games to secure their 12th region crown since 2004. Sophomore Dawson Tanner of South Suburban was named the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Ruzich collected another Region 4 Coach of the Year honor.
Wild tournament ends with Joliet as Region 4 Champions
May 24, 2023
JOLIET, ILL - The 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Tournament was completely unpredictable, and when the dust settled on a wild five days, Joliet Junior College was crowned the champions for the first time since 2015. The top-seeded Wolves, who finished the regular season ranked #8 in the NJCAA Division III Poll, went 3-1 with sophomore Jake Wilk named the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player and Gregg Braun took home Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.
UPDATED: 46 Region 4 Spring Student-Athletes Earn NJCAA All-American
June 16, 2022
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has released its list of All-Americans for the 2021-22 spring sports season, and 43 student-athletes representing Region 4 were recognized. The group includes 11 from women's track & field, ten from men's track & field and softball, eight from baseball, three from men's golf, and one from men's tennis. There are 20 first team recipients, 15 second team honoree, seven third team selections, and 11 honorable mention distinctions. The student-athletes represent ten Region 4 institutions.
Madison College earns first Div. II runner-up, Oakton ousted after three games in Div. III tournament
June 15, 2022
ENID, OKLA. & GREENEVILLE, TENN. - Two Region 4 programs who have won baseball national championships before both fell short of adding to their championship history, with Madison College finishing runner-up at the 2022 NJCAA Division II Baseball World Series and Oakton Community College faltering in the loser's bracket at the 2022 NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series. The WolfPack broke through the semifinal round for the first time ever in the Division II tournament, and despite leading the championship best-of-three series one-game-to-none, ultimately lost to Pearl River Community College by a 7-2 final in the decision third game in Oklahoma on June 4. The Owls went 1-2 in Tennessee.
Region 4 announces Spring 2022 All-Region teams
June 15, 2022
The NJCAA Region 4 has announced the numerous recipients of All-Region Team accolades for student-athletes competing in the Spring 2022 season, including those recipients of Region 4 Player of the Year honors.
Fourth consecutive Region 4 championship required extra work for Madison College
June 15, 2022
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.
Epic finale sends South Suburban past Triton for third straight Region 4 title
June 15, 2022
RIVER GROVE, ILL. - The day began with a Triton College win to force a winner-take-all championship. Then there was a game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth, which was followed by back-to-back four-run half innings in the 11th. It ultimately ended with a game-winning wild pitch in the 12th inning as South Suburban College claimed its third consecutive championship with a 9-8 win in the 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division I Baseball Tournament on May 14. The top-seeded Bulldogs had numerous players step up, including pitcher James Burke, who was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Steve Ruzich was awarded the Region 4 Coach of the Year.
Oakton upsets way to fourth-consecutive Region 4 title
June 14, 2022
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.
1,000 WINS: Davenport reaches career milestone in sweep of McHenry County
May 02, 2022
MADISON, WISC. - Madison College baseball coach Mike Davenport earned his 1,000th career junior coaching victory Sunday as part of a doubleheader sweep of Region 4 opponent McHenry County College at Robin Roberts Field. The 18-year coach of the WolfPack becomes the 43rd coach to reach that milestone in NJCAA history, and is now one of 14 active head coaches in NJCAA baseball to surpass 1,000 wins. Davenport boasts a .688 career winning percentage over 28 years, racking up 339 wins at Kishwaukee College from 1995-2004 and 662 with Madison College, where he took over in 2005.
Bevy of Region 4 teams earning recognition ahead of spring seasons
February 01, 2022
With the calendar fully flipped to February, the Spring 2022 seasons are rapidly approaching and ten Region 4 programs are garnering preseason attention. Rock Valley College boasts the only program with a #1 national ranking, as the seven-time defending national champions prepare for their final season competing at the Division III level, and the Golden Eagles are joined by the College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College representing the region in the nation's top ten. The Division II Baseball Poll also features three squads from Region 4 in the top 12, led by Madison College at #5. The WolfPack are the only Region 4 school to have both their baseball and softball teams listed in the preseason polls.
Region 4 Hall of Fame to welcome 11-member induction Class of 2022
January 20, 2022
The NJCAA Region 4 Hall of Fame is pleased to announce an 11-member induction Class of 2022. The group includes ten athletes and one national championship team that excelled during their time competing in Region 4.