Illini posts practice times, dates for Orange and Blue World Series.

Practice at Illinois Field has, of course, been going on for a few weeks now but fightingillini.com has posted a schedule of practice times for anyone who wants to stop by and watch the boys play. The schedule includes the the official dates for the Orange and Blue World Series games. Mon., Oct. 3 – [...]

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

Illini get a special visitor at practice today

I stopped by practice again today after work.  I’m glad I did because I ran into my friend John Santas from the Dugout Club.  John always makes watching baseball that much more fun. There was a special visitor at today’s practice at Illinois Field.  Josh Parr, who was drafted just this summer by the Arizona [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on September 13th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Plenty of post-season action for former Illini

It looks like the Illini are representin’ in minor league playoff action in 2011. Joe Bonadonna (left, with the Illini) and the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins Single-A) are seeing playoff action for the first time in 12 years.  They did in style too.  They won 13 of their last 15 games to win their South Atlantic [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 11th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Fall practice continues at Illinois Field

I always say this at time of year but it’s nice to watch Illini baseball even if it’s only practice.  The last couple days, I stopped by Illinois Field to watch the team of 2012 go through their drills.  No they may not be playing a game but it’s still live baseball to me. I [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on September 7th, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Hudson gets his first hit for the Orioles

On his fifth day on the roster of the Baltimore Orioles and his second game, former Illini outfielder Kyle Hudson got his first hit.  On Labor Day, the Orioles were playing the New York Yankees.  The Orioles lost to the Yanks 11-10 but Hudson singled to Curtis Granderson (who by the way graduated from University [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 6th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Ex-hurlers getting the work done in the minors

A couple of former Illini pitchers are having some success for their respective minor leagues teams. Slammin’ Pack Chris Pack, who was instrumental in Illinois’ success in the 2011 season as a reliever, is showing that same effectiveness for the Joliet Slammers.  Thanks in part to Pack (left, pitching for the Illini against Indiana State), [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 3rd, 2011 | 2 Comments »

Brandon Wikoff is still having a good month, moving on up to AAA

It’s been quite a month for former Illini shortstop Brandon Wikoff.  First, he hit two homeruns in two games last week.  Then he was honored by the Astros organization getting the Minor League Defensive Player of the Month award for his team. Now it looks like he’s moving up to AAA ball! Wikoff will be [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 3rd, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Kyle Hudson called to the majors!!

Good news for former University of Illinois outfielder Kyle Hudson.  The fleet-footed centerfielder been called to the bigs!  The Baltimore Orioles called up Hudson yesterday to the parent organization to meet the September 1 deadline. He had been playing for the AAA Norfolk Tides and doing quite well.  For the year, Hudson hit .296 with [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on September 1st, 2011 | 1 Comment »