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CHICAGO, IL (May 28, 2009) – The North Park baseball team received two more individual accolades to add its 2009 season this week.
North Park sophomores Mike Giovenco and Andy Athans were named to the 2009 ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region First and Second Team, respectively.
“This is more evidence of our program taking steps forward. These two individuals should be commended because they take a lot of pride in the year round preparation that leads these awards,” said fourth-year head coach Luke Johnson. “It’s also a result of the rest of the roster taking pride in what we do every day. The better we play as a group, the easier it is to get guys on All-Region and All American teams. What makes this very gratifying is that both of these guys turned in Dean’s List semesters academically which says a lot about what type of people make up this program.”
Giovenco, a native of River Grove, Ill. and a graduate of Fenwick High School, turned in one of the most sensational seasons by a North Park pitcher in recent memory. He led the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin with 87 strikeouts, which set a new North Park single season record. He also led the conference in opponents batting average (.193), innings pitched (72.1) and games started (11), while ranking second in wins (7) and third in earned run average (2.61). His effort earned him a spot on the CCIW All-Conference First Team as well.
Athans meanwhile was NP’s stronghold at the plate as he led the Vikings in numerous offensive categories. The New Lenox, Ill. native and Lincoln-Way Central High School graduate led the team batting average (.383), slugging percentage (.674), runs scored (36), hits (54), triples (4), total bases (95), stolen bases (17), and was second in doubles (12), runs batted in (32), home runs (7) and third in walks (15). He also compiled a 1.132 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
North Park finished the 2009 season with 18 wins, the most by an NP team in the last 10 years and a fifth place finish in the conference.
Click here for the complete 2009 ABCA/Rawlings – All Central Region Baseball Team.
Contact: Kevin Shepke, Sports Information
773.244.5594