Six Hawks Earn All-Conference Accolades

Becker, Yfantis and Wazorick earned First Team All-Conference honors. (Jim Cummins)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper baseball team took second place in the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) with a 10-2 record in 2014, and six players were recognized as All-Conference selections.

Third baseman Kurt Becker (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) was named N4C Player of the Year and a First Team selection. Shortstop Theo Yfantis (Prospect Heights, Ill./Wheeling) and right-handed pitcher Mickey Wazorick (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) joined him as First Team selections. Left fielder Tyler Crussen (Wheeler, Ind. /Wheeler), center fielder Chris Elliot and catcher Zack Jones (/Maine South) earned Second Team All-Conference distinctions.

In 12 conference games, Becker hit an incredible .605 (26-for-43) with five doubles, 10 RBIs and five stolen bases. The sophomore hit .494 with a .531 OBP, three homers, 30 RBIs, 79 total hits, 15 doubles, four triples, and 14 stolen bases in 46 games.

Crussen, Elliot and Jones earned Second Team All-Conference honors. (Jim Cummins)

Yfantis hit .302 with six doubles and seven RBIs in conference play. In 45 games, the sophomore hit .304 with two homers and a team-best 31 RBIs. Wazorick went a perfect 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 20 innings of conference play. For the season, he went 6-2 with a 4.47 ERA and a team-best 38 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.

Crussen hit .457 (16-for-35) with four RBIs and two stolen bases in conference action. Overall, the freshman hit .331 with 12 RBIs and 13 steals in 42 games.  Elliot hit .400 with a homer and seven RBIs in conference play. Overall, the sophomore hit .246 with a homer, 11 RBIs and eight steals while playing solid defense.

Jones hit .343 with four RBIs and also threw out five runners on the basepaths in conference play. In 37 total games, Jones hit .297 with 13 RBIs and threw out a nation-best 19 runners on the basepaths.

"I'm proud of the effort of all our players, but it is nice to see our players recognized for their accomplishments on the field by the other conference coaches," said Harper head coach Cliff Brown.