The University of Illinois Springfield’s Prairie Stars baseball team has been awarded the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, a distinction that also grants them the privilege of hosting the opening round of the double‑elimination tournament.
The regional bracket will commence on May 14 and run through May 17 at the UIS Baseball Fields, where the team will open against Indianapolis.
Standout junior outfielder Tommy Atkinson leads the offense with a .385 batting average, 79 hits, 58 RBIs and 12 home runs, while senior outfielder Corey Boyette mirrors his production at .385 with 72 hits and 15 homers. Junior designated hitter Kaden Griffitts adds a .376 average, 71 hits, 15 homers and 71 RBIs, giving the lineup depth and power.
Star Performers
Senior pitcher and utility player Rosie Bartletti has been a dominant force on the softball side, posting a 2.07 ERA, striking out 122 batters and helping the team reach the GLVC tournament before finishing the season 32‑20. She also set a school record for stolen bases in a season (49) and for a career (141), earning first‑team all‑GLVC honors.