Illinois Baseball Report

Crap.
For the second time in three years, the top starting pitcher for the Illini will be kicked off the baseball team.  That’s right… Phil Haig.  The official reason given was that he was dismissed because of a “violation of team rules”. 
Here’s the official word from Coach Hartleb:
"We place great emphasis on conducting yourself [...]

Filed under: Announcements on September 30th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Team Canada took the Bronze in Baseball’s World Cup.  Former Illini catcher Chris Robinson can take a little credit for their success.  For the Cup tournament, he went 11 for 29 (.379) with 8 runs scored and 6 rbis. 
Canada defeated Puerto Rico 6-2 on Saturday to clinch the Bronze, their first ever in Cup [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 29th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Citing the success of last year’s effort, the Big Ten and the Big EAST will once again kick off the season in 2010.  Both conferences have announced the schedule of the Big Ten/Big EAST Challenge. 
"We are very happy to once again host the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge," said Kevin Smith, director of the St. [...]

Filed under: Announcements on September 29th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

This is a digital replica of former Illini Dominic Altobelli’s official baseball card this year when he played for the Casper Ghosts.  His father Mike, who sent me the card, is very positive about how Dom’s first season progressed saying that he began “driving some balls toward the end of the season”.  They like [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 17th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

A little non-baseball yet Illini-related material stuff in honor of tomorrow’s football game versus Illinois State. 

For me, I can tell that it’s fall by the sound of a marching band.  You see, I have the privilege of hearing (and sometimes watching) the University of Illinois Marching Band practice right outside the building where [...]

Filed under: Feature on September 11th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Just a few photos from Thursday’s workout.

Showing again Illinois’ new world order, last year’s secondbaseman  Josh Parr is getting a workout at short. 
 

A home plate view of freshman righty Matt Milroy.

I love snapping the ball in mid flight.
More photos from Thursday at the photo gallery.

Tags: fall practice, josh parr, Matt [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on September 10th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

At practice the last few days, I got a chance to see and even meet a few of the new Illinois baseball players.

Matt Milroy will certainly be in Illinois’ plans for next year.  A right-handed pitcher rumored to have a devastating fastball, Milroy was recruited from Marmion Academy High School in Aurora, Illinois.  He made [...]

Filed under: Recruits on September 10th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Coach Hartleb watching from the sidelines
I got a chance to watch full team practice today at Illinois Field.  It was nice hot day evidenced by the sweat pouring down the guys by the end of practice. 

Coach Snider gets as much a workout as the players
Watching practice is a different beast than in [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on September 8th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

There’s a first time for everything and no one knows that more than former Illini infielder Shawn Roof.  Last night in the very last game of the Erie Seawolves’ regular season, Roof hit his very first home run in professional and college play.  His homerun came against the Akron Aeros in the 2nd inning.  [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 8th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Yes, it’s the fall but Illinois Field will begin seeing some action in the coming days.  In the past couple of weeks, coaches have been doing individual workouts with the team.  Starting this week, full team practice commences at Illinois Field.
I’ll be stopping by with the camera on a couple days and hope to snap [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on September 7th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »