Harper to meet Waubonsee in regional

The Harper College baseball team is scheduled to open NJCAA Region IV tournament action today on the campus of top seed Joliet Junior College.

The fouth-seeded Hawks (12-24-1) play No. 3 seed Waubonsee Community College at 3:30 in Game 1 of the double-elimination tournament.

“I kind of like being in the middle,” Harper coach Cliff Brown said of being the fourth seed. “I don’t think we’re going to sneak up on anyone. You take a team for granted, they’re going to bite you. I told the guys the season starts Thursday.”

The Hawks will send right-hander Scott Plaza (Prospect) to the mound against the Warriors. Plaza was 4-1 in N4C play with a 3.56 ERA.

“You’re only as good as your starting pitcher,” said Brown.

Waubonsee defeated the Hawks 1-0 in a 9-inning game April 26. Harper had a chance to tie it, but a Hawk baserunner was thrown out at home in the eighth inning.

“Our goal from Day 1 has been to go to Tyler (Texas),” said Brown, referring to the site of the NJCAA World Series. “The key is getting your first game under your belt and staying out of the losers bracket.”

Top seed Joliet is nationally ranked, but Brown is optimistic.

“I think anyone has an opportunity to do well,” he said.

Second-seeded Milwakee Area Technical College has defeated the Wolves twice this season. If the Hawks are able to advance to the winners bracket they will play Friday at 3:30 p.m.

If Harper is relegated to the losers bracket, it would play at 1 p.m. Friday against either Milwaukee Area Technical College or Rock Valley Community College.

The Hawks had three players named to the all-conference team: Sophomore catcher Cris Holke (Barrington), freshman Herberto Ortega and sophomore Bobby Beelen (Wheeling).