By Kevin Shepke
CHICAGO, IL (May 10, 2011) – For the first time 21 years the North Park baseball team can call itself College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) champions.
North Park (30-10, 15-6) earned a share of the title, its first since the 1990 season, with a 5-0 win over visiting Augustana College Monday afternoon. In a game originally scheduled for April 22, but postponed due to poor weather conditions, North Park junior Travis Boyer earned his fourth win of the season as he recorded 13 strikeouts.
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the second when senior Wade Yunker drove home senior Andy Athans (single) on an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. North Park then added three more runs in the third on an Athans RBI double, a Brad Medina RBI groundout and a run-scoring single from senior Zach Deutscher. The final run crossed the plate in the fourth when Athans connected for an RBI single.
Monday’s victory also marked the first time North Park reached the 30-win plateau since the 1988 season when it finished with a 31-9 record.
In six short years, head coach Luke Johnson has turned the North Park program from a 1-39 team in 2005 to a perennial power in the CCIW and the nation.
North Park, which finished tied for first with Illinois Wesleyan University, will open play in the CCIW Tournament Thursday night at 6 p.m. The No. 2 seeded Vikings will face the No. 3 seed Carthage College Red Men at Jack Hornberger Field on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
