Three Prairie Stars have been named to the 2025 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) Midwest All-Region baseball teams. Catcher Ivan Dahlberg and first baseman Mark Kattula earned first team recognition, while shortstop Ethan Bowers landed on the second team.
Ivan Dahlberg | Junior | Catcher
Dahlberg delivered another stellar campaign behind the plate and at the plate, earning D2CCA All-Region honors for the first time and adding to his list of accolades that includes back-to-back All-GLVC First Team selections. He hit .344 on the year and led the Prairie Stars with 16 home runs, finishing with a .500 on-base percentage and a .696 slugging percentage鈥攂oth among the top 10 single-season marks in program history.
Defensively, Dahlberg appeared in 48 games and was the primary catcher, posting 280 putouts, 22 assists, and 10 runners caught stealing鈥攔anking seventh in the GLVC in that category. His offensive production also ranked among conference leaders: No. 4 in home runs, No. 5 in batting average, No. 6 in slugging, and No. 7 in on-base percentage.
With 40 walks drawn for the second straight season, Dahlberg now ranks third all-time at UIS in career walks. Nationally, he ranked 44th in NCAA Division II in the category during the season.
In addition to the D2CCA recognition, Dahlberg was named First Team All-Region by the NCBWA.
Mark Kattula | Redshirt Senior | First Baseman
Kattula paced the UIS offense with a .385 batting average, collecting 80 hits鈥攐ne of the top 10 single-season totals in program history. In 51 games, he posted a .432 on-base percentage and added 19 doubles, four home runs, 49聽RBIs, and 48 runs scored. He struck out just 16 times all season and reached base in 27 straight games.
In the GLVC, Kattula ranked second in hits, sixth in doubles, seventh in runs scored, eighth in RBIs, and ninth in batting average. His defensive work at first base included 201 putouts, five assists, just three errors, and 11 double plays.
Kattula previously earned second team All-Region honors from the NCBWA this season and was a D2CCA second team designated hitter in 2024.
Ethan Bowers | Junior | Shortstop
In his debut season with UIS, Bowers made an immediate impact as the team's leadoff hitter and everyday shortstop. He batted .327, tied for the team lead with 108 total bases, and went 23-for-25 on stolen base attempts. His 64-hit season included 12 doubles, a triple, and 10 home runs.
Defensively, Bowers was involved in 16 double plays and finished with 118 assists and 53 putouts. He logged 21 multi-hit games and provided dependable play both offensively and defensively throughout the season.
All three players were also honored on the NCBWA All-Region teams and were first team All-GLVC selections this spring.