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

D3baseball.com All-Central Region Teams

May 18, 2015 – Three North Central College baseball players were named to the D3baseball.com All-Central Region team, released on Monday, highlighted by Bryan Polowy earning Pitcher of the Year honors.

Polowy is the first player in program history to earn Central Region Pitcher of the Year, since the installment of the award in 2012 and just the second Cardinal to be named to the first team.  In addition to Polowy, Joe Paparone was named to the second team as a designated hitter and Vito DeRango earned third team honors at second base.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin was represented with 11 selections this season, as Illinois Wesleyan University and Augustana College were represented with three selections, while Wheaton College and Carthage College each received one selection.

Coming off one of the most dominant seasons in North Central history, Polowy's 1.09 earned run average broke the program's single-season ERA mark of 1.37, originally set by Bob Walker in 1974, while leading the conference in wins, ERA and opposing batting average.  Polowy allowed just nine earned runs over 74 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 61 batters while walking just 17.  He jumped into the single-season record book in multiple categories, as his two shutouts this season rank him tied for first, his eight wins rank second, 74 1/3 innings pitched rank sixth and five complete games rank ninth.  Polowy also earned CCIW Pitcher of the Year honors, another first in the history of the program.

Paparone earns his first All-Central Region distinction, as the senior designated hitter/outfielder finished the season batting .351 with a team-high six homeruns, 40 RBI, 36 runs scored, 87 total bases, nine hit by pitches and .565 slugging percentage, while finishing second on the team with 54 hits.  Paparone received first team All-CCIW honors this season, adding to his second team nod in 2014.

DeRango also earns his first All-Central Region nod, leading the team batting .380 this season, including a .452 mark in CCIW play, leading the conference with 38 hits and 22 runs scored over 21 games.  DeRango led the team with 57 hits this season, while ranking second on the team with 34 runs scored, three homeruns and 80 total bases.  DeRango also earned first team All-CCIW honors this season, in addition to his second team award in 2013.

By virtue of their selections, each of the three players are eligible for the D3baseball.com All-America team, announced later this month.