McHenry County takes winner-take-all over South Suburban for repeat championship
CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL. - The NJCAA Region 4 Division I Baseball Tournament came down to a winner-take-all game on May 9, and #2-seed McHenry County College claimed a repeat championship with a road win over top-seed and host South Suburban College by a 19-6 final. The Scots Caden Guenther was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Jared Wacker of MCC earned Region 4 Coach of the Year. (Recap: McHenry)
The two teams squared off in a semifinal the day prior, and the Scots rolled to a 12-2 decision in eight innings. After the Bulldogs eliminated #4 Olive-Harvey College with a 10-5 victory in the elimination semifinal, it set up a showdown between MCC and SSC for the title.
South Suburban College kept the momentum going with a resounding 13-3 win that saw the hosts score five runs in the second and seventh innings. That set up the winner-take-all game, which McHenry County College blew open with an eight-run second inning. The Scots continued to added multiple runs in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth innings. Guenther was 2 for 5 with a walk and three runs scored.
The victory advanced McHenry County College to the NJCAA Midwest District Tournament, which they hosted on May 14-15. The tournament opened with a 13-10 loss to Iowa Western Community College, followed by an 8-6 setback to Lake Land College that saw the Scots surrender a 6-2 lead. McHenry County College finished the 2025 season with 39-20 record.
2025 Region 4 Division I Most Valuable Player
Caden Guenther - McHenry County College
2025 Region 4 Division I Coach of the Year
Jared Wacker - McHenry County College