Illinois Baseball Report

Yesterday, I entered a team in the second annual Kiwanis Sports Trivia Championship here in Champaign.   While we didn’t win, we had fun and it was for a good cause. Like last year, there was one Illinois baseball question among the 100 questions they gave us.  And once again, Lou Boudreau was the subject of [...]

Filed under: Community stuff on January 31st, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Hard core big league fans look forward to when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.  I guess the closest that college baseball has is when players begin full team practice… and that happened for the first time yesterday. Players and coaches convened at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility (complete with the identical Field Turf [...]

Filed under: Spring Practice on January 29th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Shawn L emailed me wondering why I haven’t posted about this particular gem of news.  He’s right… it’s pretty significant. The gist of it is that the University of Illinois has announced that they will make admission to all of its ‘Olympic Sports’ free of charge. From the Illini press release: The University of Illinois [...]

Filed under: Announcements on January 24th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

After work today (yes, I worked on a Saturday), I crossed the cemetery that separates the U of I campus and the baseball field and got another look at the nearly completed clubhouse addition at Illinois Field.  While I was there, I shot some photos. As you can see, the construction fences are still up.  [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on January 22nd, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

A bit of news in case you might have missed it… there has been a schedule change.  Due to the stadium calamity that occurred at the Metrodome on December 12, they have been forced to cancel the Metrodome Tournament.  Coach Hartleb was up for the challenge and filled the March 11-13 slot with an away [...]

Filed under: Announcements on January 21st, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Tickets for the Big East/Big Ten Challenge went on sale today. From the Big Ten: “An all-tournament pass, which provides access to all 24 games of the Challenge, can be purchased for $25. Individual day passes are available for $10 and admit a spectator to all games at all venues for that day. Alumni groups, [...]

Filed under: Announcements on January 21st, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

The annual Hot Stove Banquet which is sponsored by the University of Illinois baseball team and the Fighting Illini Dugout Club is almost here.  An annual tradition, the Hot Stove Banquet kicks off the Illini baseball season and is a good chance to meet the coaches and players. Here are the critical details: Date:  Feb [...]

Filed under: Community stuff on January 20th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Maybe it’s a little for this but Happy New Year!  It has been a couple weeks since I posted and I do apologize for that. One month from yesterday, the Illini baseball team will be playing in their first game of the 2011 season.  It’s hard to believe.  I remind baseball fans from here who [...]

Filed under: Blog Administration, Recruits on January 19th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »