Oakton's baseball team reigns again as conference champions

The Oakton Community College baseball team successfully defended its Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship by sweeping Waubonsee Community College on Monday, April 18. With the two road wins over the Chiefs (8-2, 7-2), the Owls finished 12-2 in conference play for the second straight year. The last time Oakton’s baseball team won back-to-back conference titles was during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. This also is the fourth conference crown in 11 seasons under head coach Bill Fratto.

“To match last year’s conference record again is quite an accomplishment,” Fratto said. “Our sophomores have finished conference play 24-4, and that just shows great leadership.”

The Owls mowed through the conference outscoring opponents 102-37 during the 2016 season. Oakton clinched the title behind the strong starting pitching of Brandon Nowak (5-0) and Cody Pazik (4-3), who threw complete games and combined for 17 strikeouts against Waubonsee.

“Winning the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference is always our goal,” said Fratto. “Earning another conference championship is great, but our main focus is to be the first team to represent Oakton in the national championship.”

The Owls currently boast a 22-8 overall record with less than four weeks remaining in the season.