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

ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Teams

May 20, 2015 – Four North Central College baseball players were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Central Region team, released on Wednesday, while the awards keep piling up for Bryan Polowy, once again earning Central Region Pitcher of the Year.

Polowy has once again etched his name in the program's history book, becoming the first player in to earn ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Pitcher of the Year, in addition to his D3baseball.com Central Region Pitcher of the Year and College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Pitcher of the Year.

In addition to Polowy's first team selection, Vito DeRango was named to the second team as a second baseman, while Joe Paparone and Sam Klein each earned third team honors in the outfield and at second base, respectively.

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin was represented with 14 selections this season, as North Central and Augustana College each received four selections, while Illinois Wesleyan University and Carthage College were represented twice, along with one selection from Elmhurst College and Wheaton College.

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. 

DeRango adds the second team nod to his D3baseball.com third team All-Central Region award, 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.

Paparone also earns his second All-Central Region award this season, adding the third team honor to his D3baseball.com second team honor, as the senior outfielder/designated hitter 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.

Klein is the first Cardinal since 2011 to earn back-to-back All-Central Region awards, earning D3baseball.com second team honors in 2014 to go along with his ABCA third team honor this season.  Klein finished the season batting .329, leading the team with 13 doubles, while ranking tied for second with 54 hits and third with 74 total bases.

By virtue of his first team selection, Polowy is eligible for the ABCA/Rawlings All-America team, announced later this month.