Curran, Lapinski Share Titan "MVP" Honors

14 June 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Junior Mick Curran and sophomore Cory Lapinski have been chosen as the co-winners of the “Most Valuable Player” award and senior Rob Blumberg was named the “Most Valuable Pitcher” for the 2004 Illinois Wesleyan baseball team.

Curran and Lapinski also shared the “Best Defensive” award for the Titans, who finished with a 28-19 record, won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title and advanced to the NCAA Division III regional tournament.

Curran, a third baseman from Orland Park (Sandburg HS), batted .383 with five home runs, 14 doubles and 36 runs batted in. He led IWU with a .466 on-base percentage and coaxed 27 walks.
After three seasons, Curran is No. 10 all-time at IWU with 158 hits, No. 9 in doubles (33), No. 13 in runs batted in (96), and No. 16 in runs (99).

Lapinski, a centerfielder from Niles (Maine East HS), led the team with a .397 average and set IWU season records with 73 hits and 184 at bats. He tied Curran for the team lead in doubles (14) and had eight homers and paced IWU with four triples and a .647 slugging percentage.

Despite being slowed by an arm injury early in the season, the righthanded Blumberg (Freeburg HS) had a 6-1 record with a 3.32 earned run average and one complete game. He struck out 28 and walked only nine in 43 1/3 innings.

In other team honors for the Titans, sophomore outfielder Nick Chilczenkowski was chosen as the team’s “Most Improved Player” and freshmen righthanded pitchers Travis Myers and Robert Inzinga shared the “Top Newcomer” award.

Freshman catcher Josh Bidzinski (Belvidere, Rockford Boylan HS) earned the “Titan Award,” which is given for hustle and competitive attitude.

Chilczenkowski (LaFox, Geneva HS) batted .327 with six homers, 13 doubles and 37 RBI.

Myers (Lake Forest HS) posted a 3-1 record with a 4.12 earned run average in 10 relief appearances. He struck out 11 in 24 innings.

Inzinga (Glen Ellyn, Glenbard West HS) started seven games, made 12 appearances and had a 2-3 record with a 6.75 ERA. He fanned 20 in 34 2/3 innings.

As a team, IWU had single season records in hits (486) and doubles (96) and sophomore first baseman Brian McCabe (Cary, Cary-Grove HS) had 54 runs batted in, a total second in an Illinois Wesleyan season to James Rinne, who had 57 RBI in 1997.

Senior righthander Nick Heinz (McHenry HS) appeared in 20 games, second all-time at IWU behind Chris Seifert, who made 23 appearances in 1988.

Head coach Dennis Martel, whose 17-year record is 413-273-3 (.602), awarded letters to 21 players. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Rich Berthold (Elk Grove, Conant HS); Rob Blumberg (Freeburg HS); Nick Heinz (McHenry HS); Chuck Nelson (Elk Grove Village, Conant HS); Jason Trotter (Macon, Meridian HS).

JUNIORS – Mick Curran (Orland Park, Sandburg HS); Jason Shearn (Wheeling, Buffalo Grove HS).

SOPHOMORES – Nick Chilczenkowski (LaFox, Geneva HS); Pat Cinquegrani (Barrington, Fremd HS); Dave Dobosz (Lombard, Glenbard West HS); Brandon DuBois (Beecher HS); Drew Himes (Princeton HS); Joe Howard (Downers Grove, Montini HS); Cory Lapinski (Niles, Maine East HS); Brian McCabe (Cary, Cary-Grove HS).

FRESHMEN – Mike Berry (Crystal Lake, Prairie Ridge HS); Josh Bidzinski (Belvidere, Rockford Boylan HS); Robert Inzinga (Glen Ellyn, Glenbard West HS); Travis Myers (Lake Forest HS); Eric Sander (Morton Grove, Niles Notre Dame HS).

IWU Baseball Recruits

Ten high school seniors have indicated they plan to attend Illinois Wesleyan and will play baseball for Martel, including Chicago Tribune first team all-state third baseman Ricky Angel of Glenbard West HS. Angel had a .456 average with 16 doubles, six home runs and 45 runs batted in.

Other IWU baseball recruits are Mike Ally, infielder, Lockport (HS); Justin Boelter, pitcher, Eagan, Minn. (HS); Charlie Bromann, infielder, Glenbard West HS; Chris Davis, pitcher, Hinsdale Central HS; Nate Rittenberry, infielder, Mundelein (Carmel HS); and Mike Rosin, pitcher-outfielder, Niles West HS.

Three other prep student-athletes have indicated they plan to play both football and baseball at IWU, including Andrew Dulaney, outfielder, Eden Prairie, Minn. (HS); Zack Krulac, pitcher-infielder, Canton (HS); and Billy Spieth, catcher, Homewood-Flossmoor HS.

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206