NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Following the best week of his collegiate career, North Park sophomore outfielder Joe Perona earned College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Hitter of the Week honors on Monday afternoon. Perona becomes the third Viking to earn the weekly award this season, following junior outfielder Alex DiVito (Feb. 26) and senior second baseman Justin Swanson (April 8).
Perona hit .625 for the week that consisted of one game against Wheaton and a three-game series with Carroll. The Chicago slugger knocked in 12 runners, stole three bases, tripled, homered, and double three times while playing errorless defense in right field with eight putouts. His defense was beyond errorless, in fact: he robbed a home run in the fourth inning in game two against Carroll.
Later that game, he delivered a walkoff double down the left-field line to give the Vikings a pair of home wins over the Pioneers.
He finished the series with Carroll 8-for-11 with four extra-base hits, 12 RBI, five runs scored, and three stolen bases. As of Monday morning, Perona's 33 stolen bases rank seventh in DIII Baseball.
