Former Irvine Valley standout first baseman Lucas Tancas has spent the last two months helping the Willmar Stingers challenge for a title in the Northwoods League, a prominent summer baseball league for collegiate players.
The Northwoods League, with teams in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, is the largest organized baseball League in North America with 18 member teams.
Heading into Thursday night's action, Tancas was batting .267 with two home runs, four doubles and 17 RBI in 35 games and 120 at bats.
He has helped Willmar win the North Division for the first half of the season with a record of 23-11.
The Stingers are 11-7 so far in the second half for a 34-18 record overall. Teams play a 56-game regular season in the Northwoods League.
By winning the first half, the Stingers have secured a playoff spot for the third-time in franchise history.
The playoffs begin Aug. 10.
In a 8-4 win for the Stingers over Rochester last week, Tancas went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored as the team's designated hitter.
He's played third base primarily for Willmar.
Tancas has had a number of impressive performances for the Stingers.
In a 4-3 win over Alexandria last month, Tancas went 1 for 2 with a home run, two RBI and two walks.
And Tancas's best game came early in the season when he hit a grand slam in a 19-6 Willmar win over Thunder Bay.
Tancas, who has signed to play at Long Beach State next season, helped lead Irvine Valley to one of its best seasons this past year.
The Lasers finished with a record of 23-8 overall and made the Super Regional round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Tancas, who started at first base for IVC, paced Irvine Valley in batting average at .340, in hits with 53 and in runs with 24.
He also had 16 RBI and seven stolen bases.