ILLinois wesleyan wins 18th conference title behind hitting and pitching of cory lapinski

Pitcher/outfielder Cory Lapinski was a dominant performer both on the mound and at the plate and his effort throughout the year helped key Illinois Wesleyan’s run to the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin baseball title. The Titans went 18-3 in the league and then ripped off three consecutive victories in the conference tournament to secure both the championship and the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Lapinski was voted the “Player of the Year” in the CCIW and with good reason. He went 5-0 with a 2.75 earned run average in 36 innings of work. He led the conference in both strikeouts with 65 and runs-batted-in with 27 and for good measure he added six home runs.

Illinois Wesleyan finished one game ahead of Carthage (17-4) and two ahead of Augustana (15-6) in the conference standings and earned the right to host the CCIW tournament. Wins over North Central, Carthage and Augustana made the Titans of head coach Dennis Martel the champions for the second year in a row and for the third time since 2001. Martel and Augustana’s Greg Wallace shared the “Coach of the Year” award. Besides Lapinski, the Titans landed pitcher Drew Himes and infielders Ricky Angel and Mick Curran on the all-conference first team. Wesleyan finished the season with a 34-13 overall record.