What A Year For Judson : 6 CCAC Championships

W h a t A Y e a r F o r J u d s o n : 6 C C A C C h a m p i o n s h i p smoving forward in new eraStarting another new era in Judson baseball, the 2008season proved to be an exciting season after a slowstart. The 2008 season was the first year for newhead coach Rich Benjamin. This was Benjamin’s firsthead coaching position after three years as an assistantcoach at Olivet Nazarene University under NAIAgreat Elliot Johnson.Judson started out 1-13 on the season before winningnine games in a row to improve to 10-13. From thatpoint on, Judson turned the season around and finishedwith a 18-25 record and was 12-8 in the CCAC.The 12 wins tied the school record for CCAC wins in aseason. Judson also went on to claim their first-everCCAC Tournament Championship and receive the atlargebid to the NAIA Region VII Tournament.The season also brought a number of firsts for theprogram, too. Judson won their first-ever CCAC Tournamentand then played in the program’s first-everNAIA Region VII Tournament. Judson also knockedoff two nationally ranked teams in #24 DickinsonState and #13 St. Francis. Judson came from behindto defeat #13 St. Francis, 6-5, to give USF their firstCCAC loss. Another first came when Judson took a6-5 win over St. Xavier which was the first time in programhistory that Judson had defeated the Cougars.Judson also played two NCAA Division I programsin the University of Illinois and Valparaiso University.Judson was the first opponent to play on Illinois’ newturf field on March 24th.In the CCAC, Judson swept three series against OlivetNazarene, Illinois Tech, and Cardinal Stritch University.They also defeated regionally ranked teamsin St. Francis, St. Xavier, and Purdue-North Central.In the season, Judson faced four nationally rankedteams #21 Missouri Baptist, #24 Dickinson State, #14Ohio Dominican, and #13 St. Francis. Judson defeatedtwo of the four teams in Dickinson State andSt. Francis.Judson also broke several individual and team recordsin the 2008 season.benjamin takes over progamTaking over the Judson Eagles for the 2008 seasonas the new head coach is Rich Benjamin. Benjaminentered his first season as a head coach afterthree years as the assistant at Olivet Nazarene. AtONU, he produced one of the top pitching staffs inthe CCAC and had several players named to the All-CCAC teams. He was a part of the 2005 CCAC regularseason championship team and the 2007 CCACtournament championship. ONU also went to theNAIA Region VII Tournament all three years he wasa coach.ccac tournament championsAs the #3 seed in a four-team tournament, Judsonwent 3-1 to win their first-ever CCAC TournamentChampionship. The CCAC Tournamentfaced the #3 through #6 teams in the CCAC forthe right to go to the NAIA Region VII Tournament.Judson won both of their games on day one withwins over Olivet Nazarene (6-2) and Purdue-North Central (9-7). Judson had to face Purdue-North Central again on day two after PNC defeatedOlivet Nazarene. In the second meeting,PNC’s offense unloaded on Judson for 20 runsas they won 20-7. This set up the third meetingof the tournament between Judson and PNC thefollowing day.On the third day of the tournament, Judsonscored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inningto take a 12-11 win for the championship. Judsonwas up 9-4 before PNC scored six runs inthe top of the ninth inning to take a 10-9 lead.Judson then tied the game at 10 in the bottomof the inning. PNC answered with one-run in thetop of the 10th for an 11-10 lead before Judsonrallied for the win.NAIA Region Vii tournamentCompeting at their first-ever NAIA Region VIITournament, Judson received the #5 seed in thesix team tournament. Judson fell in the first twogames with losses to #2 St. Ambrose and#1 St. Francis. In the first game, Judsonplayed six strong innings against St. Ambrosebefore the Fighting Bees put fiveon the board in the seventh inning toblow open the game to take the win,9-3. Judson then faced #1 St. Francisin the elimination game and lost, 11-5.Judson came within two of USF, 7-5,after six innings, but allowed four moreruns in the final three innings in the sixrunloss.#5 naia region viiFor the first-time in the history of the program,Judson was given a regional ranking. In the finalpoll on May 5th, Judson was #5 in the NAIAk y l e k o b e r n u sn c c a a A l l - R e g i o n 1 s t T e a mA l l - C C A C H o n o r a b l e M e n t i o nRegion VII poll.Region VII Rankings1. University of St. Francis (Ill.)2. Saint Ambrose University (Iowa)3. William Penn University (Iowa)4. Saint Xavier University (Ill.)5. Judson University (Ill.)6. Iowa Wesleyan Collegeall-ccac awardsJudson had one player named to the All-CCAC Honorable Mention team in Kyle Koberus.Kobernus went 6-5 overall and 5-1in the CCAC. He recorded 60 strikeouts onthe season. He was second in the CCAC instrikeouts per game at 7.11 per game andseventh in total wins.ccac freshman of the yearFirst-year player Oscar DePablos pickedup Judson’s other CCAC award as he wastabbed the CCAC Freshman of the Year.He led Judson with a .418 batting average,.525 slugging percentage, and hits (59). Heplayed in 42 games and started 41 of the total43 games in the season. In the single