ECC advances in NJCAA playoffs
From the brink of elimination, the Elgin Community College baseball team rebounded Saturday and beat Prairie State College twice to win the Region IV Section II championship.
ECC (34-18) posted wins of 5-2 and 6-2 to move on to the Region IV Final Four starting Thursday in Kankakee.
In Game 1, Andy Grunewald ran his record to 6-2 for the season and Brett Loeding picked up his 10th save. Dan Scahill was 2-for-4 for the Spartans, while Alex Mullendore went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Alex VanNess and Thomas Wilson each drove in a run.
In Game 2, Tom Roth hit 2 homers for ECC and Matt Revelle went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. VanNess (5-0) picked up the win with relief help from Ben Rodriguez and Loeding.
"We really got some good pitching today and if we can continue to throw strikes we can make a run," said ECC coach Bill Angelo.
The winner of the Region IV tournament advances to the NJCAA World Series in Enid, Okla.
Judson wins NCCAA regional: Taking one of the final two games against Olivet Nazarene, Judson University won the program's second NCCAA Regional title. Judson fell in the opener, 10-5, but took the second game, 6-2. Judson won Game 1 of the 3-game game series on Friday. Judson is now 39-22 on the year and play in the NCCAA National Tournament from May 19-22 in Mason, Ohio.