As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the program's Division II era. Each week, UIS will feature one team and one player, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.
The 2018 Prairie Stars baseball team delivered one of the most historic seasons in UIS history, setting a new standard for the program and launching a run of postseason success. UIS finished the year with a 47-9 overall record and became the first UIS Baseball team to earn a berth in the GLVC Tournament, doing so in dominant fashion by winning the East Division with a 23-1 conference mark.
Midway through the season, UIS also earned its first-ever national ranking. The Prairie Stars were ranked No. 19 in the Perfect Game national poll and No. 25 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll, marking a milestone moment for the program at the NCAA Division II level.
After going 0-2 in the conference tournament, UIS earned the opportunity to host an NCAA Regional for the first time. The Prairie Stars opened the regional with wins in their first two games, including a signature victory over Quincy, before falling to Southern Indiana and Ohio Dominican to close out the season. That appearance marked the beginning of a streak of five consecutive NCAA Regional berths for the program.
The record-setting campaign also brought an array of individual honors. Head coach Chris Ramirez was named GLVC Coach of the Year, and UIS placed seven players on the All-GLVC First Team: Andrew Dean, Justin Revels, Michael Rothmund, Jack Schaaf, Nick Stokowski, Cole Taylor and Cameron Zunkel.
Five more Prairie Stars earned All-GLVC Second Team recognition: Colton Hale, Myles Hann, Brayden Jensen, Ben Schanding and John Sechen.
Regional and National Honors
All-Region Selections
- Nick Stokowski – D2CCA, ABCA and NCBWA First Team All-Region
- Cole Taylor – D2CCA, ABCA and NCBWA First Team All-Region
- Andrew Dean – D2CCA and ABCA First Team; NCBWA Second Team All-Region
- Justin Revels – ABCA First Team; D2CCA and NCBWA Second Team All-Region
- Michael Rothmund – ABCA First Team; D2CCA and NCBWA Second Team All-Region
- Chris Ramirez – NCBWA Regional Coach of the Year
All-America & National Awards
- Nick Stokowski – First Team All-American (ABCA, NCBWA, D2CCA)
- Cole Taylor – Second Team All-American (ABCA, D2CCA); Third Team All-American (NCBWA)
- Michael Rothmund – Third Team All-American (ABCA)
- Chris Ramirez – NCBWA National Coach of the Year
A season defined by wins, historic firsts and national recognition, the 2018 UIS baseball team left an undeniable mark on Prairie Stars Athletics and established a foundation for the program's continued success at the NCAA Division II level.
