Tokarski Keeps Rolling with Four-Hit Performance

July 8, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - Everything worked for the Dupage Dragons on Monday night in a 13-3 rout of the Quincy Gems, and it all started at the top of the order with Illinois State's Kevin Tokarski. Tokarski reached base five times, scored three runs and was a diving stop away from a five-hit game.

Since earning a spot on the 2008 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team for his performance in the spring, Tokarski has continued to hit for average and reach base while serving as the table setter for his Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) team this summer.

Tokarski is one of four Redbirds in the CICL and one of the many Illinois State players continuing to compete in summer leagues across the country.

While Monday's win might have been Tokarski's best night of the summer, it represents only a sample of his contribution for the second-place Dragons. Tokarski is fifth on the team with a .317 batting average and the three runs he scored on Monday put him in a tie for the team lead at 12. Tokarski has yet to collect an extra base hit, but thanks to a team high 12 walks, he's reaching base at a .434 clip.

"My summer coach is helping me out with my hitting," said Tokarski, who was second for the Redbirds with a .303 average as a freshman last season. "We're going back to square one and it's really helped me a lot. I've smoked some balls the past several days, which hasn't happened a lot. My approach has pretty much stayed the same. I'm usually trying for right center all the time, but I've been pulling a lot more balls and getting my front foot down a lot earlier."

With Collin Salzenstein returning to the Redbirds lineup next season after missing the spring with a shoulder injury, Tokarski is anticipating a move to second base and working to shore up his defense.

"I've been starting at second base for the past 10 games," Tokarski said. "(Illinois State head coach Jim Brownlee) said I was probably going to move back there. Defensively, I've been struggling a lot. My summer coaches are helping me out, and I'm going to get the ball more. The speed at second base is a lot different at the college level than it was in high school and you've got to go get the ball."

Another vital component to the Dragons' success this season has been Tokarski's Illinois State teammate, Ryan Copeland. Copeland had his worst outing of the season in his last start on July, 4, but still managed six strikeouts while surrendering just three runs in a Dragons' win.

Copeland is 2-0 in four starts this summer and has fanned 32 batters in 23.2 innings of work. Copeland, who was one of the stingiest pitchers in the nation last season, has walked just eight batters and has a 1.90 ERA.

Illinois State's Ronnie Calvird saw his nine-game hitting streak end last week against Tokarski and Copeland. Calvird is hitting .203 for the Dubois County Bombers while teammate Corey Maines has yet to surrender an earned run in 10.2 innings on the mound. Maines has 15 strikeouts and just two walks in eight appearances and has saved one game.

Redbird Baseball Players in Summer Leagues