Peoria Standard

The University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars baseball team claimed a recent victory and Representative Tim Butler joined in the celebration.

“An awesome comeback story and now the Prairie Stars move on to the DII Championship round for the first time in school history,” Butler wrote on Facebook. “The ‘Starboys’ also picked up their 49th win yesterday, a new school record! It is so exciting to see University of Illinois Springfield really coming to life as an NCAA DII power right here in our backyard!”

UIS set a new school record with its 48th win of the season, breaking the 2018 team which went 47-9 on the year. The Prairie Stars will take a 48-9 record to Cary, N.D., and that bracket will be announced later this weekend.

Many of the students on the UIS baseball team have made headlines for their skills such as Zion Pettigrew.

“It felt amazing,” Pettigrew said to the State Journal-Register. “I had gotten a couple of hits earlier in the game off of offspeed pitches, and I knew he'd come with a fastball there. I just didn't miss it — really exciting, really awesome moment that helped spark my teammates. They were super hyped up about it and just helped jumpstart that inning. It felt really good.” 

The UIS Prairie Stars will compete in the NCAA Division Two World Series. 

Coach Ryan Copeland talked to ABC20 on May 28 after the win.

"Now you have a real chance to go win it all," UIS head coach Ryan Copeland said. "You really do. You’re one of eight teams. A good game here. Some luck here and there and you’re fighting for a national championship. It’s pretty cool to say out loud."

In one game, the State Journal-Register reported the UIS Prairie Stars beat Quincy at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Missouri 16-3.

The Prairie Stars defeated Quincy by scores of 10-4 and 10-8 in the May 28 doubleheader.