Illinois Baseball Report

I stopped by Illinois Field today after work to observe practice.  The team was still in individual workouts so I’ll hold off on posting photos for the time being.  Coach Snider tells me that full team practice will probably begin after Wednesday.  The players look good.  Specifically, Matt Dittman looks to be in good form [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on August 30th, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

After work today, I trekked on over to Illinois Field to see how construction was going on the improvements on the Illinois players’ clubhouse.  I took some photos while I was there too. The UI baseball program has come out with a press release on the construction.  Here are some of pertinent details: it will [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on August 20th, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

As promised, I stopped by Illinois Field today and got some shots of the construction work they are doing on the players’ facility on the northwest corner of the park.  Since it was Saturday, there wasn’t anyone actually working there but you do get a sense of what’s happening. It seems like they’re just starting [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings, Uncategorized on July 31st, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

I noticed on the way to work that construction work is beginning on the locker room facility on the northeast side of Illinois Field.  Rumors have been flying that they were going to upgrade the facility this summer.  My guess is that the players are excited about this.  I’ve already heard from one parent who [...]

Filed under: Fall Happenings on July 30th, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

Today was my first trip out to Illinois Field.  The second I stepped outside the building I work, I heard the ping of the bats (yes, I work that close).  I walked across the cemetery that separated me from the field and voila!, I was there.  It’s been a good four months since I’ve been [...]

Filed under: Spring Practice on March 10th, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

A whimsical topic here.  How many of you pay attention to post-game music at Illinois Field?  You know, the song you hear as you are leaving the stands?  I always thought it had a good beat and wondered what it was.  I even asked a few in the know what it was to no avail.  [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized on November 21st, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

All these times I’ve crossed the cemetery on Florida Avenue on my way to Illinois Field to watch the Illini play, I never realized I was passing by the gravestone of a former major leaguer.  I learn from Kyle of the Chillini blog: Big Jeff (Pfeffer) was born and raised in Champaign and attended the [...]

Filed under: Feature on November 3rd, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

This game ranks up there as one of the best baseball games I’ve ever seen considering what was at stake, how many were in attendance and what actually went down.  And in case the photo above doesn’t give it away, Illinois won.   With Alex Wimmers (above left) and Phil Haig (above right) on the [...]

Filed under: Game Recaps on May 8th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

It’s around noon as I write this and it’s drizzling pretty steady here at the University of Illinois.  Checking the forecasts, there’s a chance it will clear up for tonight (optimistic) or we’re in for a wet game tonight (realistic).  [ Update:  At 2:28pm, the sun finally peeked out from under the clouds and things [...]

Filed under: Game Previews on May 8th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Matt Dittman practices his “mean” face before the game with Eastern. It’s late so I’m going to keep this short.  The Illini are heading to Marion, IL to play Coach Hartleb’s alma mater, Southern Illinois University.  Hartleb will play down his time at SIU but word has it he was pretty good as a catcher [...]

Filed under: Game Previews on April 14th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »