FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CCIW Press Release

Apr. 29, 2013 – A pair of North Central College baseball players swept the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week awards as Ben Krusen was named Pitcher of the Week and Joe Paparone was honored as Hitter of the Week, for the week of Apr. 22-28.

Krusen struck out a career-high 12 batters in a 6-1 complete game win over Wheaton College, Apr. 25 to claim game on of the season series over the Thunder.  Krusen tossed all nine innings, scattering seven hits while walking just one batter.  Krusen's 12 strikeouts move him into fifth-place on the program's career list, as his 155 career punch outs are just 48 shy of the all-time lead.

Paparone finished the week 8 of 17 from the plate, good for a .417 average with one run scored, four RBI and four doubles and a .706 slugging percentage to propel the Cardinals to a 5-1 record this past week including taking two of three games from Wheaton.  Paparone was 4 for 6 with two doubles and three RBI in the doubleheader against the Thunder, while going 2 for 5 with a double and RBI in the 6-1 win the night prior.

This is the Cardinals second and third Player of the Week awards, as Kris Singh was honored as Pitcher of the Week on March, 11.

North Central hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wednesday, Apr. 30 at 3 pm, before the CCIW finale May 2-3 against Carthage College that will help determine the conference tournament participants.  Friday's single game will be played in Kenosha, Wis. at 3 pm, with Saturday's doubleheader at North Central beginning at 12 pm.  Links to live audio and statistics is available HERE.