By Nate Bloomquist
The Apaches finished out their season strong and nearly won their regional. They fell to Joliet Junior College in the championship game of the Division IV regional. En route to the championship game, the Apaches set a record for wins in a season as they finished with a 27-26 overall won-lost record.
Head coach Bob Koopman said the main difference in the team was its pitching.
"The year before last year we had a team ERA of around 10," he said. "This year it was about five, which may not sound very good; but for a college team that is very good."
Leading the Apaches on the mound was Ottawa High School grad Justin Wharrie. The sophomore who has since transferred to Chicago State University compiled a 3.83 ERA and a 7-2 won-lost record. Steve Hardman also played a pivotal role on the team. He led the team in innings pitched (70.1), strikeouts (67), and had the lowest ERA (2.56).
Hardman is attending Northern Illinois University this fall.
Koopman said he thinks his team’s winning ways can continue.
"We were able to keep some of the better players from the area to come here," Koopman said. "This year that is the case even more so. We’re in a new conference this year, so I don’t know. Hopefully we’re going in the right direction."
Leading the way for the offense were Brett Allen and Eric Markey. Allen led the team in nearly offensive category including batting average (.396), home runs (10) and RBIs (52). Markey, will attend Concordia College this fall finished out his season with a .330 batting average and 22 RBIs.
The Apaches finished out their spring season with a 7-2 won-lost record. They also took fourth place in the season-ending N4C conference meet.
Rob Vagnali was defeated in the championship match for number one singles and was named by the coaches as the Most Valuable player of the meet. If Vagnali would’ve won the match he would’ve advanced to the regional competition.
Freshman Scott Grabowski took second place in singles.
The men’s tennis coach resigned at the end of the season and at press time the position was still open according to athletic director Mike Riley.
Grabowski-Vagnali dominated and Kotecki did well too.
In process of getting a new coach. After he resigned after the end of the season.
IVCC finished up their season at 4-22. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to Harper College. Also at the end of the season, coach Bill Forrest resigned. That’s where new coach Cory Tomasson stepped in to take over the job.
Leading the way for the Lady Apaches last season was pitcher Nicole Thompson who averaged near six strikeouts a game.
IVCC finished at 4-5 in N4C conference play.