Illinois Wesleyan 2006 Baseball Stories

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May 27
Illinois Wesleyan senior rightfielder Nick Chilczenkoswki has been chosen to the second team of the Division III All-America squads chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings. Chilczenkowski (LaFox, Geneva HS) led the 2006 Titans with seven home runs, 15 doubles, 49 runs batted in and with a .423 batting average, the seventh best in an IWU season. His 66 hits is the fourth most in an IWU season. Outfielder James Rinne is the only IWU player to be named first team ABCA All-American when he was selected in 1997. Pitcher Cory Lapinski (2005), pitcher Steve Schilsky (2001), pitcher Brett Robinson (1986) and catcher Jay Ahrendt (1996) have all be second team All-Americans and second baseman Ryan Gilfillan was a third team selection in 2001.

May 22
Senior lefthanded pitcher Dave Dobosz and senior outfielder Nick Chilczenkowski were chosen as the "Most Valuable Players" for the 2006 Illinois Wesleyan baseball team. The Titans finished 28-14 overall and 14-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. In other team honors, sophomore Nate Rittenberry was chosen "Most Improved Player" and freshman Rob Cummings was tabbed as the "Top Newcomer." Senior catcher Tanner Springer and (for the second straight year) junior infielder Pat McWilliams were the winners of the "Titan Award", given for hustle and competitive attitude. Go here for complete story.

May 16
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team is represented by six players on the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin all-star squads. Senior lefthanded pitcher Dave Dobosz and senior outfielder Nick Chilczenkowski were chosen to the first team while seniors Joe Howard (outfield) and Pat Cinquegrani (utility) were joined by sophomore second baseman Ricky Angel and freshman third baseman Rob Cummings on the second team. Angel and Howard tied for the league lead with eight doubles, Cinquegrani tied for the CCIW lead with 15 stolen bases and Chilczenkowski led the CCIW with 15 walks.

May 13-14
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team finished second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin baseball tournament, losing the title game to Carthage, 6-4, in Kenosha, Wis., on May 14. The Titans' Dave Dobosz allowed nine hits and improved to 9-1 in IWU's 4-1 win over Augustana in the tournament semifinal round on May 13. Nick Chilczenkowski had three hits, including a home run, and drove in all four of the Titan runs against the Vikings. Chilczenkowski, Pat Cinquegrani and Rob Cummings each had two of the Titans' 11 hits against the Red Men, but IWU fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and 6-2 in the top of the fourth and could never catch up.

May 12
The Thursday (May 11) and Friday (May 12) games at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin baseball tournament in Kenosha, Wis., have been rained out. The tournament will now be a single-elimination, nine-inning event, and will get begin on Sat., May 13 at 10 a.m. with top-seeded Carthage (31-7) against No. 4 North Park (14-26), and No. 2 Augustana (31-9) taking on No. 4 Illinois Wesleyan (27-13) 30 minutes after the completion of game #1. The championship game will be played on Sun., May 14 at 10 a.m., with the possibility of a tournament-consolation game to follow, weather permitting. The winner of this weekend’s single-elimination tourney receives the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III baseball championship.

May 9
Illinois Wesleyan led 6-0 after one inning, but failed to hold on to a late 7-6 lead and lost a nonconference game to Blackburn, 8-7, on Tues., May 9 at Horenberger Field. The Titans fall to 27-13 overall and will play Augustana in the first round of the CCIW tournament on Thurs., May 11 at Carthage. Catcher Josh Bidzinski launched a three-run home run over the leftfield fence to account for the biggest blow in the first inning.

May 9
Illinois Wesleyan senior leftfielder Joe Howard has been chosen "Player of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Howard batted .450 (9 for 20) as he helped IWU win four of five games, including three conference games. He scored five runs and had eight runs batted in, including a three-run double that was the gamewinner over Elmhurst, 6-5, on May 6. He had four doubles, a .650 slugging percentage and a .522 on-base percentage.

May 7
Illinois Wesleyan completed a three-game series sweep of Elmhurst with an 11-8 decision on Sun., May 7 at Elmhurst. Rob Cummings got four hits and drove in two runs and Tim McInerney drove home four runs. Robert Inzinga pitched 4 1/3 innings of solid relief to earn the decision and improve to 3-3, while the Titans are 27-12 overall and finish 14-7 (third place) in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. IWU hosts Blackburn on Tues., May 9 and will play Augustana in the first round of the CCIW tournament on Thurs., May 11 at Carthage.

May 6
Illinois Wesleyan improved to 26-12 overall and 13-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with 6-5 and 7-5 wins over Elmhurst on Sat., May 6 at Horenberger Field. The Titans' John Wantiez became the single-season saves leader as he notched his eighth in preserving the game two victory, and Pat Cinquegrani became the all-time steals leader, surpassing Jeremy Hunt, who had 54 from 2000-03. The Titans rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win game one after squandering a 3-0 lead. Joe Howard knocked in three with a bases-loaded double. The Titans got 15 hits in the second game and benefitted from four Bluejay errors. Nick Chilczenkowski had three hits and two RBI.

May 4
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team had 14 hits and survived making five errors in an 8-3 nonconference win over Benedictine on Thurs., May 4 at Horenberger Field. Joe Howard had four hits and four runs batted in to pace IWU while Tanner Springer had three hits and Ricky Angel and Nick Chilczenkowski each had two. Travis Myers, the seventh of nine IWU hurlers, picked up the pitching win and the team improved to 24-12 prior to a Saturday conference doubleheader against Elmhurst at 1 p.m. at home.

May 2
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team managed only four hits against three Division I Illinois State and lost to the Redbirds, 8-2, in the 3rd Horenberger-Bass Classic at IWU on Tues., May 2. Brian McCabe blasted a home run to deep left field and drove in both IWU runs in the game. Robert Inzinga (2-3) took the pitching loss for the Titans, who fell to 23-12 overall and will host Benedictine in another nonconference game on Thurs., May 4.

May 2
Illinois Wesleyan senior rightfielder Nick Chilczenkowski has been chosen "Player of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as he hit .714 (10-of-14) in four wins. He had 11 runs batted in, four doubles, a triple and a homer, a slugging percentage of 1.357 and a .722 on-base mark. He was 3-for-4 with four RBI in a 12-2 win over North Park (4/29), and 5-for-7 with three RBI in a doubleheader win over the Vikings (4/28). He had four RBI with two doubles in a non-league win over Maryville.

April 29
Illinois Wesleyan completed a three-game sweep of North Park by winning a 12-2 game on Sat., April 29 at Horenberger Field. IWU (23-11, 11-7 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) banged out 19 hits with Tim McInerney collecting four with two RBI; Nick Chilczenkowski had three with four RBI; Ricky Angel had three and Rob Cummings also had three hits. Jesse Foster allowed two hits and struck out five in earning the pitching victory. IWU hosts Illinois State at 6 p.m. on Tues., May 2 in the 3rd Bass-Horenberger Classic.

April 28
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team improved to 22-11 overall and 10-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a pair of wins over North Park on Fri., April 28 at Horenberger Field. The Titans won game one, 7-1, behind the five-hit pitching of Dave Dobosz. Ricky Angel got three hits and drove in a run. IWU won game two, 10-6, as Brandon DuBois struck out nine in eight innings and Nick Chilczenkowski had three hits with two doubles and two runs batted in. IWU and North Park will play a single game at 11 a.m. Sat., April 29 in an effort to dodge the forecasted rain and complete the three-game series.

April 27
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team improved to 20-11 with a 14-2 nonconference win over Maryville onThurs., April 27 at IWU's Horenberger Field. The Titans' 13-hit attack was led by Nick Chilczenkowski, who had two doubles and four runs batted in, Ricky Angel with three hits (including a homer) and four runs batted in, and Pat Cinquegrani with two hits, two runs batted in and three runs scored. Ryne Haag started the game and picked up the pitching decision. In a weekend schedule change, the Titans will now host North Park in a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. Fri., April 28 and a single game at noon on Sat., April 29.

April 25
Senior Dave Dobosz has been named "Pitcher of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin for the second time this season. The senior lefthander from Lombard, Ill., pitched nine innings (in a scheduled seven-inning game) in a 3-2 Illinois Wesleyan win over Augustana on April 22. Dobosz allowed six hits, only one earned run and struck out three in improving to 6-1. Viking batters hit just .214 against him. The Titans host non-league opponent Maryville at 6 p.m. on Thurs., April 27.

April 23
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team let leads of 9-6 and 11-9 get away as Augustana scored three times in the bottom of the 10th inning to claim a 12-11 win over the Titans on Sun., April 23 in Rock Island. IWU stands at 19-11 overall and 8-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Freshman Rob Cummings, after getting six hits against Monmouth earlier in the week, got five hits (with two doubles) and drove in three runs and Joe Howard also drove home three runs for the Titans. Ricky Angel and Josh Bidzinski each had two hits and Bidzinski had two RBI.

April 22
Designated hitter Pat Cinquegrani knocked in Mike Berry with the winning run in the ninth inning to give Illinois Wesleyan a 3-2 win over Augustana in game one of a doubleheader on Sat., April 22 at Horenberger Field. Dave Dobosz (6-1) allowed six hits, one earned run and fanned three in earning the win for IWU (19-10, 8-6 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin). The Titans managed only six hits in losing the nightcap to the Vikings, 6-1. The teams will face each other in a single game on Sun., April 23 at 1 p.m. in Rock Island.

April 20
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team fell to 18-9 in a 9-3 loss to Washington U. at Horenberger Field on Thurs., April 20. The Titans led, 3-0 after six innings but the Bears got three in the seventh, one in the eighth and five in the ninth to get their 30th win of the year. Starting pitcher Robert Inzinga struck out six in six innings and Brian McCabe had three hits, including two doubles, and a run batted in. The Titans host Augustana in a 1 p.m. home College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader on Sat., April 22.

April 19
Brandon DuBois pitched eight strong innings and John Wantiez picked up his record-tying seventh save as Illinois Wesleyan downed Rockford, 3-2, at IWU's Horenberger Field on Wed., April 19. The Titans improved to 18-8 as DuBois allowed five hits and one runs while striking out five. Wantiez tied the IWU season saves record set by Chris Seifert in 1989. Rob Cummings stayed hot with a home run and Joe Howard had two hits and a run batted in.

April 18
Freshman Rob Cummings set a school record with six hits in six at bats as the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team blasted Monmouth, 23-5, on Tues., April 18 in Monmouth. Cummings had a double, a home run and six runs batted in as his six hits bests the old mark of five, held by nine players and done most recently by Ryan Gilfillan in 2002. Sophomore second baseman Ricky Angel had a double, two homers and six runs batted in and senior leftfielder Joe Howard also had two homers and six runs batted in to lead the offensive barrage. Matt Aronson pitched four strong innings to earn the win for the Titans, who improved to 17-8 for the season.

April 15
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team committed seven errors and lost a 6-4 decision to Carthage on Sat., April 15 in Kenosha, Wis. The Titans are 16-8 overall and 7-5 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Nate Rittenberry scored two runs and he and Mike Berry and Josh Bidzinski each had two of the Titans' 10 total hits. Jesse Foster was the losing pitcher, going seven innings and allowing eight hits and just two earned runs.

April 14
Illinois Wesleyan split a doubleheader with Carthage on Fri., April 14, winning the first game, 7-2, and losing the second, 13-3, in Kenosha, Wis. The Titans are 16-7 overall and 7-4 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and Carthage is 17-6, 9-2 CCIW. The teams play a single game on Sat., April 15. In the first game, Dave Dobosz allowed eight hits and struck out five and got offensive support from Nick Chilczenkowski (home run and four RBI), Pat Cinquegrani (three hits) and Joe Howard (homer). In the nightcap, three IWU hurlers were touched for 15 hits including three doubles and four Red Men home runs.

April 12
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team got 14 hits in a 21-2 win over Millikin on Wed., April 12 at Horenberger Field. Mike Berry had three hits (including two doubles) and six runs batted in while Ricky Angel and Nick Chilczenkowski each had four runs batted in. Matt Aronson scattered six hits and struck out four in five innings of work to earn the win for IWU, who improved to 15-6 overall and 6-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

April 12
After squandering an early 5-0 lead, Illinois Wesleyan rallied from a 6-5 deficit to beat Concordia, 9-6, on Tues., April 11 at Horenberger Field. The Titans improved to 14-6 with the nonleague win. Rob Cumming and Joe Howard each had two hits (with home runs) and three runs batted in and Nick Chilczenkowski also had a home run. Lefty Ryan Gilbert  earned the win, pitching 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out four. IWU hosts Millikin in a league game at 3:30 Wed., April 12.

April 9
Illinois Wesleyan improved to 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with a 13-7 win over North Central on Sun., April 9 at Horenberger Field. The Titans got three hits and four runs batted in from Nick Chilczenkowski and Pat Cinquegrani also had three of IWU's 15 hits. Joe Howard, Mike Berry and Brian McCabe each had two hits and McCabe hit a solo homer. Jesse Foster earned the pitching victory in relief of Ryne Haag, hurling five innings and scattering seven hits against the Cardinals (5-15, 1-7 CCIW).

April 8
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team won a pair of College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin games at North Central on Sat., April 8. The Titans got a five hitter from Dave Dobosz (4-1) in a 6-0 win in the opener as Josh Bidzinski got three hits and Joe Howard, Brian McCabe and Pat Cinquegrani each had two hits. IWU (12-6, 4-3 CCIW) won the nightcap, 7-4, as McCabe and Rob Cummings each had three hits in the 15-hit attack against the Cardinals (5-14, 1-6). Brandon DuBois was the winning pitcher with a save from John Wantiez, his sixth of the year. The school season record for saves is seven, set in 1989 by Chris Seifert.

April 5
Freshmen pitchers Matt Aronson and Jesse Foster carried the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team to a 7-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win at Wheaton on Wed., April 5. Aronson  pitched five innings and allowed one run, two hits and struck out five to earn his first win while Foster came on in the sixth and struck out three while allowing just one hit. Joe Howard led the Titans (10-6, 2-3 CCIW) on offense, hitting RBI doubles in the first and third innings to put IWU ahead 2-0. IWU added five in the fourth on a two-run double by Mike Berry and RBIs from Rob Cummings and Ricky Angel. After playing their fifth game in five days, the Titans return to action Sat., April 8 at North Central in a doubleheader.

April 4
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team dropped a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader at Millikin on Tues., April 4, losing the first game 7-4 and the second by a 7-6 score. In the first game, Joe Howard went 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in to lead IWU, and Tanner Springer  was 2-for-3 with one RBI. In the second game, sophomore Ricky Angel had three hits and two RBI to lead IWU, and freshmen Rob Cummings and Mike Rosin both went 2-for-3 with home runs. The Titans are 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the CCIW and play at Wheaton at 3:30 p.m. Wed., April 5.

April 1
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball Titans had 13 hits in an 11-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader against Wheaton on Sat., April 1 to salvage a split in the pair. Senior first baseman Brian McCabe had two hits and drove in five runs while senior leftfielder Joe Howard had three hits and freshman third baseman Rob Cummings smacked a two-run homer. Senior Brandon DuBois picked up the pitching win for IWU (9-4, 1-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin). The Titans managed only four hits in losing the first game, 2-0, to the Thunder (6-8, 1-1 CCIW).

March 25
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team finished their southern trip with two losses to Coe College on Sat., March 25 in St. Louis. Coe took the first game, 4-2, and won the nightcap, 5-0. Coe (9-7) outhit IWU, 11-6 in the opener and 8-3 in the nightcap. Senior Brandon Dubois (2-1) took the loss in the opener as senior shortstop Pat Cinquegrani had two hits for the Titans. Senior Rob Inzinga (2-2) suffered the loss in the second game after working one inning. The Titans open league play with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Wheaton on Sat., April 1.

March 23
Illinois Wesleyan scored eight runs before Christian Brothers could push a run across the plate and the Titans went on to beat the Bucs, 8-4, on Thurs., March 23 in Memphis, Tenn. IWU (which improved to 8-1) scored three runs in the third inning, two in the fifth and three more in the sixth en route to the victory. Senior shortstop Pat Cinquegrani had a home run and two runs batted in, while freshman Rob Cummings drove in two and scored twice. Senior lefthander Dave Dobosz pitched eight innings to earn the pitching victory and senior John Wantiez came in and got the game's last out for his fourth save. The Titans will play a doubleheader vs. Coe on Sat., March 25 in St. Louis.

March 22
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team improved to 7-1 with a 10-6 win over Rhodes on Wed., March 22, in Memphis, Tenn. Senior Joe Howard had three hits and three runs batted in and Nick Chilczenkowski had three hits and two RBI to pace IWU. Brian McCabe and Josh Bidzinski each had two hits for IWU against Rhodes (17-4). Senior righthander Ryne Haag, the first of four Titan hurlers, earned the win after working 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs.
March 19
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team improved to 6-1 with two wins over the weekend against Millsaps in Jackson, Miss. IWU downed the Majors, 10-8, on Sat., March 18 and then scored an 8-7 win on Sun., March 19. On Sunday, the Titans posted a five-run sixth inning capped by a two-run double by Mike Berry. Pat Cinquegrani had three of IWU's 14 hits and Nick Chilczenkowski hit his third homer of the year. Robert Inzinga was the winning pitcher and John Wantiez earned his third save of the season, matching his total for all of 2005.
March 14
Senior lefthander Dave Dobosz has been chosen as the "Pitcher of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Dobosz pitched six shutout innings and scattered four hits in an 8-0 Titan win over Rose-Hulman on Sun., March 12 in Terre Haute, Ind. Wheaton's Quinn Wulbecker was the "Player of the Week" as he hit .625 in four games. IWU's Ricky Angel was the "Player of the Week" in week one of the CCIW season.
March 11
Despite a 5-for-5 afternoon from Nick Chilczenkowski, the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team lost a 9-7 game to Manchester on Sat., March 11, in Terre Haute, Ind. Chilczenkowski  had a home run, four singles and three runs batted in and Brian McCabe had two hits with a home run and two RBI and Nate Rittenberry also had two hits. Robert Inzinga (1-1) took the loss as the Titans fell to 2-1 and will play a doubleheader at Rose-Hulman on Sun., March 12 at noon.

March 7
Illinois Wesleyan sophomore Ricky Angel has been named "Player of the Week" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin for the week ending March 5. The second baseman had five hits in seven at bats (.714) with one home run and scored six of the Titans' 13 runs in the 6-5 and 7-1 doubleheader sweep at Greenville.
March 4
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team opened its 2006 season with a doubleheader sweep at Greenville, taking game one, 6-5 and winning the nightcap, 7-1. Senior Brandon DuBois was the winning pitcher in the opener, getting offensive support from two Ricky Angel hits, including a home run. In the second game, junior Mike Berry (who had two hits) and freshman Rob Cummings hit home runs and Robert Inzinga was the winning pitcher. Nick Chilczenkowski had five hits in the doubleheader. The Titans play next weekend in a three-team tournament at Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Ind.
January 4
The Illinois Wesleyan baseball team has been picked No. 13 in the Division III preseason rankings done by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. The Titans, 34-13 in 2005 and won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title, are the only CCIW team to be listed in the magazine's top 34. Wooster (39-9 in 2005) is selected as No. 1, followed by Cortland State (43-9), Wartburg (37-11), Chapman (37-11) and Rowan (42-10). IWU, with first team all-region infielder Ricky Angel (.360, 4 home runs, 33 runs batted in), opens its season with a doubleheader at Greenville (Ill.) on March 4.