Hammond, Ind. – May 23, 2022 – The Viking Arms Have Arrived.
The Southland Vikings announced their 2022 roster, beginning with the pitchers on the team.
Colin Amundson RHP Lewis University – Amundson enters his first year with the Vikings. The right-handed pitcher plays baseball at Lewis University, a Division II school in Romeoville, Ill.
Nate Barbato RHP Purdue Northwest University – Barbato is a right-handed pitcher and enters his first year with the Southland Vikings. Barbato pitches for Purdue Northwest, a Division II school in Northwest Indiana. Barbato appeared in seven games for the Pride, striking out six hitters in 7 2/3 innings pitched. His best outing came on March 26, 2022, when Barbato had a career-high three strikeout performance while allowing just one hit and no runs in two innings against Saginaw Valley.
Ray Cantelo RHP North Central College – Cantelo is a right-handed pitcher who enters his first year with the Southland Vikings and just completed his freshman season with North Central College. A two-sport athlete in high school and college, Cantelo kicks for the football team in the fall and pitches for the baseball team in the spring. This past football season, Cantelo averaged 54 yards on two kickoff attempts while attempting an extra point.
Zach Costello LHP Calumet College of St. Joseph – Costello returns for his second season with the Vikings. The left-handed pitcher spent his 2022 college season with Calumet College of St. Joseph after transferring from Saint Xavier University. With the Crimson Wave this season, Costello appeared in 12 games while starting one, throwing for 14 strikeouts to 9 walks in 19 innings pitched. Last season with the Vikings, Costello pitched in 14 games, going 2-1 with an earned run average of 2.61 in 31 innings pitched.
Josh Ladislas RHP Lake Land College – Ladislas is in his first year with the Vikings and is a right-handed pitcher from Lake Land College. The right-hander attended St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago. Ladislas committed to Lake Land in December of 2020.
Liam McKillop RHP Lake Land College – McKillop returns to the Vikings for a second consecutive season. The right-handed pitcher who plays college ball at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., was named to the All-GRAC (Great Rivers Athletic Conference) team for his efforts on the mound this season. McKillop made 21 appearances for the Lakers going 3-0 with five saves and a 2.61 earned run average in 31 innings pitched in 2022. Last season with the Vikings, McKillop pitched in five games (starting three of them), striking out 24 hitters, and posting an earned run average of 2.70 in 20 innings pitched.
Oscar Trevino LHP Saint Xavier University – The southpaw returns to the Vikings for another season. The left-handed pitcher plays baseball at Saint Xavier University, an NAIA school in Chicago. In 2021 with Saint Xavier, Trevino appeared in nine games on the mound, posting a 3.60 earned run average with two strikeouts in just five innings pitched. This comes after Trevino did not make an appearance for the Cougars in 2020.
Nolan Vlcek RHP Western Michigan University – Back for another season with the Southland Vikings, this year the right-handed pitcher represents Western Michigan University, a Division I school in Kalamazoo, Mich. In his first year with the Broncos, Vlcek pitched in 13 games, collecting two saves while allowing 10 hits with 22 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings pitched. A summer ago with the Vikings, Vlcek was a decorated right-handed pitcher. Vlcek was named to the Midwest Collegiate League all-star team and after the season, Vlcek was one of three players on the Vikings to be named to the All-Midwest Collegiate League team. Vlcek made eight appearances (four starts) and went 4-2 with an ERA of 2.53. He had a strikeout to walk ratio of 56 to 21 (8 strikeouts to 3 walks).
Jack West RHP Illinois College – West enters his first year with the Vikings. He is a right-handed pitcher who plays baseball at Illinois College, a Division III school in Jacksonville, Ill.
