Illini summer ball: who’s going where

Now that the Illinois season is over (I know, too soon), it’s time for the players to head to their respective summer college leagues which are already underway.

Official announcement from FightingIllini.com

I have noticed that those Illinois players who take off during the summer league action, tend to use that momentum and continue to do well in the following year for Illinois. Andrew Kim is already showing his stuff in the field for his Fond du Lac Dock Spiders…

Here is Andrew Kim’s #SCTop10 over the wall grab in left field, robbing a home run. @SportsCenter

Dock Spiders got the win 6-3 over the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. pic.twitter.com/XBpJjvj76Q

— Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (@DockSpiders) June 9, 2021

A total of 28 Illini players will be distributed among eleven teams in six leagues.  Not surprisingly, the Northwoods League leads the way.  Exactly half (14) are headed to a NWL team.

Eight are heading to the new Appalachian League.  This has some Illini roots as Coach Dan Hartleb was on its initial steering committee.

Closest to home?  That would be Tom Jurack who will be playing for the Prospect League’s Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp in Peru, Illinois.  Furthest?  Andrew Pogue who is playing for the California Collegiate League’s Orange County Riptide. 

Write home often, Andrew! 

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No.	Name	Summer Team	League	City
6	Alex Vera	Fond du Lac Dock Spiders	Northwoods	Fond du Lac, Wis.
35	Andrew Hoffmann	Mahoning Valley Scrappers	MLB Draft League	Niles, Ohio
3	Andrew Kim	Fond du Lac Dock Spiders	Northwoods	Fond du Lac, Wis.
32	Andrew Pogue	Orange County Riptide	California Collegiate	Orange County, Calif.
23	Branden Comia	Mahoning Valley Scrappers	MLB Draft League	Niles, Ohio
2	Brody Harding	Rockford Rivets	Northwoods	Loves Park, Ill.
13	Cal Hejza	Kingsport Axmen	Appalachian	Kingsport, Tenn.
4	Cam McDonald	Rockford Rivets	Northwoods	Loves Park, Ill.
38	Clayton Johnson	Kenosha Kingfish	Northwoods	Kenosha, Wis.
27	Cole Kirschsieper	Kingsport Axmen	Appalachian	Kingsport, Tenn.
33	Connor Milton	Kingsport Axmen	Appalachian	Kingsport, Tenn.
8	Grant Leader	Danville Otterbots	Appalachian	Danville, Va.
39	Jack Crowder	Kingsport Axmen	Appalachian	Kingsport, Tenn.
9	Jacob Campbell	Madison Mallards	Northwoods	Madison, Wis.
20	Joseph Glassey	Lakeshore Chinooks	Northwoods	Mequon, Wis.
17	Justin Janas	Kenosha Kingfish	Northwoods	Kenosha, Wis.
18	Kellen Sarver	Danville Otterbots	Appalachian	Danville, Va.
29	Nathan Aide	Lakeshore Chinooks	Northwoods	Mequon, Wis.
25	Nathan Lavender	Mahoning Valley Scrappers	MLB Draft League	Niles, Ohio
12	Payton Hutchings	Rockford Rivets	Northwoods	Loves Park, Ill.
42	Riley Gowens	Danville Otterbots	Appalachian	Danville, Va.
34	Ryan Hampe	Danville Otterbots	Appalachian	Danville, Va.
19	Ryan Kutt	Fond du Lac Dock Spiders	Northwoods	Fond du Lac, Wis.
31	Ryan O’Hara	Madison Mallards	Northwoods	Madison, Wis.
10	Tom Jurack	Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp	Prospect	Peru, Ill.
36	Tucker Shalley	Rockford Rivets	Northwoods	Loves Park, Ill.
22	Xavier Watson	Kenosha Kingfish	Northwoods	Kenosha, Wis.
24	Zak Hartleb	Michigan Monarchs	Great Lakes	Adrian, Mich.