After completing its regular season slate on Tuesday, Heartland baseball will begin postseason play May 17-20 as the Hawks play host to the Region 24 Tournament at The Corn Crib. The winner of the tournament, which will feature seven of the region's nine teams, advances to the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Enid, Okla. on May 27-June 2.
 
Heartland enters the double-elimination tournament as the top overall seed after posting a 50-5 overall record and a 28-4 mark in conference play. The Hawks have been ranked second in the NJCAA DII weekly polls for seven straight weeks. Heartland has been paced by its offense so far this season, as the Hawks currently lead NJCAA DII in runs scored (637), RBI (577), batting average (.389), on-base percentage (.510) and slugging percentage (.617). The top-seeded Hawks are also second in DII in hits (637), doubles (143), hit-by-pitches (132), sacrifice flies (41), total bases (1010) and extra-base hits (227).
 
Coastal Carolina commit Sam Antonnaci anchors the Hawks lineup, as the sophomore shortstop leads NJCAA DII in batting average (.539), on-base percentage (.635), runs scored (98), hits (97), doubles (31) and RBI (96). Corey Boyette (.484/.573/.767), TJ Williams (.433/.513/.488), Kansas commit Ben Hartl (.423/.599/.705) and Gallien Coupet (.400/.484/.515) have also been key mainstays in the Heartland lineup this season. Antonnaci leads the way for the Hawks in home runs with 13, with fellow Coastal Carolina commit Bobby Atkinson just behind him with 11.
 
The Heartland pitching staff is highlighted by starters Luke Wright (3.56 ERA), Maryland commit Meade Johnson (3.96 ERA) and Western Illinois commit Jason Buhl (3.79 ERA). Western Illinois commit Mason Telford (2.30 ERA, 12 appearances) and Will Fletcher (2.45 ERA, 11 appearances) have been key relievers in the Hawks bullpen this season.
 
Next week's tournament will feature NJCAA DII No.10-ranked Parkland College (44-12), Lincoln Land Community College (33-21), John Wood Community College (37-17), Lewis & Clark Community College (31-25), Illinois Central College (21-32) and Vincennes University (25-31). Play will begin at 10 am on May 17^th, and will conclude with the championship matchup on May 20^th. All games of the tournament will be streamed here. Further information can be found at heartlandhawks.com/feature/Region24Tournament.