If you haven’t noticed, there’s a new banner at the top of the IBR web page.  This was one of my favorite photos from last season.  Nothing captures emotion better than a key homerun during the last series of the season.  We can thank Casey McMurray for all of this.  This photo was taken after his dinger during the May 21st game against Indiana

(For those who need to know) from left to right: Josh Parr, unidentified fan in the stands, Willie Argo, Corey Kimes (sporting a new fashion trend), Lee Zerrusen, Matt Milroy, Bryan Roberts, hero of the moment Casey McMurray, Adam Davis, Brandon Hohl, Pat Sheehan, Thomas Shelton and Kevin Johnson.

Davis wins the prize for best facial expression.  It looks like he’s about to burst a few blood vessels there.

Adam Davis, who contributed a solo homerun Saturday, is ready for the tournament.

The shot that launched a Big Ten Championship

The photo of Matt Dittman directly above pretty much says it all.  When we look back at this past weekend, there’s no doubt it will remain one of the most remembered moments of Illinois Baseball history.  As Dittman hit the walk-off homerun to clinch a half-share of the Big Ten Championship on Sunday, that concluded the second game in the series that the Illini won on a walk off homerun.  The other they won in the eighth inning.  The fans got their money’s worth this weekend, that’s for sure.

The resulting fracas after Ditt’s homer on Saturday

Dittman wasn’t alone in his heroics this weekend, though.  That’s usually the case with the Illinois baseball team .  Justin Parr drove in five runs on Friday and Davis Hendrickson brought in the winning runs in the eighth that day.

McMurray’s homer on Sunday (Kimes, are you wearing you uni backwards?)

And Casey McMurray, the everyday left fielder who came into this weekend with nary a homer to his name this season, not only hit a walk-off homerun to win it on Thursday but contributed with another Saturday.  Timing is everything in baseball, they say.

Ironically, the Illini hit five homers this weekend but none in their 13-12 win on Friday.

Wes Braun (above) came in and pitched a perfect two innings for the win on Saturday.  A word about Wes, he had only given up ONE earned run this whole regular season as the team’s closer.  He sports a nifty 0.49 ERA.

Anyway, words cannot express, as they say.  I can vaguely remember the 2005 Big Ten Championship season.  That was when I was beginning to go to games and get interested in the program (certainly not at the level I am now).  I do remember the Big Ten Tournament since it was held at Illinois Field.

That was then and this is now.  The players and coaches are preparing for the tournament.  Fortunately, they have an extra day to prepare because of the bye (I’ve been to three tournaments and know how important that bye is).  Their first game will be on Thursday at 7pm.  Probable starter is Kevin Johnson.

Here are the tournament brackets if you haven’t seen them yet and here are the final standings.

Plenty of more photos are here.

Congratulations Illinois!!

Casey McMurray hits a solo shot in the bottom of ninth to win the game…

… and was warmly greeted at the plate by all his teammates.

Casey McMurray’s timing was impeccable tonight.  With one out in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied, he chose that moment to hit his first homerun of the year.  That blast over the left field wall gave Illinois a 4-3 win over Indiana in the first of a three game series.

Kevin Johnson (above) pitched like a winner tonight allowing only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings.  Unfortunately, he didn’t get the elusive ‘W’.  After a hit-by-pitch and later, a walk in the 9th, Coach Hartleb brought in freshman Luke Joyce to get the last out, giving Joyce the win.  Knowing Johnson though, he’s just as happy with Illinois winning the game.

It was a low scoring game but the fans did get to see some longball.  Four homers were hit in tonight’s game, three by the Illini.  Matt Dittman hit a long shot that landed over the right centerfield wall in the second inning.  Later, in the sixth, Brandon Hohl hit a solo homerun.

Matt Dittman rounds third on his homer during the second inning…

…and Brandon Hohl follows suit in the sixth.

Actually, all the homers were solo efforts.  No team scored more than one run in an inning.  The largest lead was Indiana’s two run balance in the 4th.  Yes,it was a very tight game.

More photos from today here.

Random Ramblings

I’d like to wish Ron S a speedy recovery from surgery.  Many of you who attend Illinois games recognize Ron and his trademark cheering at the games.  He has definitely been missed.  Rumor has it that he will try to make it to a game this weekend.  That’s great news!

Next up:

Same time,  same team tomorrow.  We play Indiana Friday night at 6:05pm at Illinois Field.

Go Illinois!!

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Reliever Chris Pack has a 5-1 record on the season

This is it.  If any of you were waiting for the right time to attend an Illinois game, your days are running out.  This weekend’s three game series (which starts on Thursday due to the Big Ten Tournament next week) against the Indiana Hoosiers will be the last regular season games of the year.  So come out to a game or two or three and bring a friend.

As with every final Big Ten weekend, this one will have post season consequences. Both teams are vying for the tourney.  Fortunately, Illinois (12-9) has the upper hand on Indiana (11-10) at the moment.

The Hoosiers have a 30-21 record for the year but before last weekend, they could only claim an 8-10 record against Big Ten teams.  Then they did something that no other team has done all year.  They swept the first place Michigan State Spartans.  It wasn’t enough to knock them out of first place but it’s a horse race now.  Plus it didn’t hurt the Hoosiers’ place in the standings either.  They’re 11-10 now and in a three-way tie for fourth.

Indiana has Alex Dickerson.  I’m sure you’ve heard of him.  Big Ten Freshman of the Year two years ago.  Big Ten Player of the Year last year.  He’s not slowing down any in 2011 either, leading the team in homers and rbis.

Don’t give him anything good to hit, guys.

Random Ramblings

I’ve been looking at the team matchups and the Big Ten standings and decided I’m not going to be one of those bloggers who analyze every single scenario possibility.  It’s fruitless.  I will say that it’s not over and anything is possible at this moment.  Illinois is in a great position to get a spot in the Big Ten Tournament.  Nothing I write will jinx that.  No sir.

Speaking of the Big Ten Tournament, single game tickets are on sale.  The Big Ten web site has all the info.

See you at the ballpark!

Yep, Pete Cappetta seems to be on a roll (arggh, there aren’t any more games left).  Today, he hit his second homerun of the series and his third in four games.  These were the first three homeruns of the year for Pete.

Craig Lutes and Casey McMurray also hit homeruns (#3 and #6 respectively).  Christian Cummins was 2 for 4 with a run. 

Wille Argo is called safe on a steal against Purdue. 

Argo Watch:  There’s at least one thing to celebrate for the Illini.  From today’s boxscore:

SB – Argo, W.(41);

Willie Argo passed Illinois baseball legends Shawn Roof, Kyle Hudson (I’ve seen them play… ‘legends’ is not a stretch) on the Illini single season stolen base list. 

1.  Willie Argo (2010) 41

2.  Kyle Hudson (2008) 40

     Shawn Roof (2007) 40

4.  Todd Schmitke (1981) 35

Congratulations, Willie!!!!!

Random Ramblings

This will be the first time I’ll be viewing the Big Ten Baseball Tournament bracket and not see Illinois anywhere on it.  I’ve been covering them since 2005 when they won their last Big Ten championship and the Tournament was held here in Champaign.  Since then, I’ve been to every Big Ten Tournament with the exception of 2006.  It will certainly be a different postseason especially for the players. 

Am I too much of a traitor if I’m a little glad that #3 seed Northwestern made it in?  Not only are they our geographic buddies but I like seeing the underdogs make it.  It’s been a few years since they’ve been in.  I suppose so. 

Kudos to Minnesota and Michigan who are the #1 and #2 seeds in the tourney respectively.  Especially, Minnesota who we all wondered what was going on with their miserable early pre-conference start.  They won when it mattered. 

Good luck to the Tournament teams and more importantly…

Thanks to the Illinois Baseball team for a great year!!

Indiana continued to hit and scored 12 runs.  Fortunately, Illinois had a blockbuster afternoon scoring 17 runs on the same amount of hits.  Brandon Hohl hit two homers and drove in three runs.  Final score:  Illinois 17  Indiana 12. 

The lead changed hands a quite a few times throughout the game.  Each team nickel and dimed each other for the first few innings but Illinois had the lead 6-3 by the bottom of the fifth.  That’s when Indiana had their big inning when they scored six runs giving them a three run lead.  Illinois responded in the next inning by scoring seven of their own including one of Hohl’s homeruns, this one a two-run shot to left. 

For good measure, Illinois added four more in the top of the ninth.  This time, it was a Hohl double, a triple by Willie Argo and a double by Craig Lutes that did the damage.

Starter Kevin Johnson came out throwing hard (six strikeouts in four innings) but was also hit hard.  He gave up six runs on seven hits in his four innings.  Corey Kimes (left) was the one who managed to stop the Hoosier’s bats when he came in the 5th inning.  He kept them scoreless for 2 2/3 innings.  As a matter of fact, between the 8 pitchers on both teams, Kimes is the only one who did not give up a run.  Pretty amazing considering the total amount of 29 runs scored.  For that, Kimes deserves the win. 

Besides Hohl, plenty of Illini had good days offensively.  Argo drove in 3 rbis and scored twice.  Craig Lutes hit a double and scored twice with two rbis.  Casey McMurray got three hits including a double and scored three runs.  DH Thomas Shelton was 3 for 6, hit a double and drove in three runs.  Finally, Pete Cappetta continues to hit.  He went 2 for 5 with 2 rbis.

Argo Watch:  After Willie Argo reached base on a fielder’s choice in the 7th inning, he stole second base.  That ties him with Kyle Hudson and Shawn Roof for the team single season record for stolen bases with 40.

Tomorrow is the very last regular game for the Illini this year.  They take on Indiana at 12 noon.  According to fightingillini.com, there is still a chance for the Illini to tie for sixth place. 

Go Illini!

Update:  Sixth place Iowa just defeated Purdue 7-2.  That gives them an 11-11 record which I believe knocks Illinois out of tournament contention. 

Indiana never had the huge inning… no more than than three runs in a frame.  Also, Illinois managed to separate their rallies with goose eggs.  Indiana never scored in two successive innings.  Yet, when it all came down to it, Indiana won big time. 

Lee Zerrusen was again hit hard.  He gave up eight hits and five runs in three and 2/3 innings.  A big mystery to me is Big Z.  Everything pointed to Zerrusen being a solid starter this year but for some reason he got knocked around a lot.  He’s got good stuff, there’s no doubt about it.  It just never clicked.

I’ve said before I thought Pete Cappetta was a late starter.  He showing that to an extreme this year.  On Tuesday, Cappetta (right) hit his first homerun of the year against Western Michigan.  Today, he hit his second, an 8th inning 2-run shot.  For the day, he was 3 for 3 with 2 rbis, 2 runs and a stolen base.  DH Aaron Johnson knocked two base hits and scored twice. 

Argo Watch:  Willie got on base three times on two singles and a walk but did not steal a base.  Two of those times, there was a runner on second base.  He needs one more stolen base to tie the team record. 

Random Ramblings

If you know why Mike Giller hasn’t been playing in the past week or two, you know more than I.  I’ve been asking around and no one seems to know.  Giller has had a pretty productive 2010 spelling for the injured Matt Dittman at first base.  Given Giller is a senior and these are his last days an Illini, I’m betting/hoping it’s a good reason.

More news from the minors… former Illini catcher Lars Davis has been promoted to AA ball.  Lars (left) will be reporting to the Tulsa Drillers which is the AA affiliate for the Colorado Rockies.  Congrats, Lars! 

(By the way, thanks to the person who occasionally feeds me these news tips.  I know they want to remain anonymous but I do want to express my appreciation (you know who you are).

  Tomorrow is a 2pm game.  Kevin Johnson is on the mound for the good guys.

Go Illini!!

Tom Shelton takes umm… batting practice before the Western Michigan game

For the last regular season weekend, we’re playing the Indiana Hoosiers.  Note I use term “weekend” loosely since the series starts on Thursday.  Given the teams playing, I’m expecting some wild and wooly games.

Indiana Hoosiers
May 20, 2010			2 pm ct
May 21, 2010			12 noon ct
May 22, 2010			12 noon ct
Sembower Field			Bloomington, IN
Program website link			Record	25-24 (Big Ten 10-11)
Head Coach:	Tracy Smith		Key player:	Alex Dickerson

The one word that describes Indiana is OFFENSE.  They have plenty of it and then some.  Two of the top three hitters in the conference (Alex Dickerson and Jarrud Sabourin) are Hoosiers.  And the homers!  Indiana’s 73 homeruns lead the Big Ten by a significant margin (Purdue comes in at #2 with 52).  Twenty-two of the 73 homeruns belong to Dickerson who most certainly is going to be on the A-list for the Big Ten Player of the Year. 

With all the hitting you might wonder why Indiana is barely competing at a winning pace and even has a 10-11 conference record.  Take a look at their pitching.  Their ERA is dead last in the Big Ten.  That said, starter Drew Leninger and his 7-3 record and 4.33 ERA seems to be someone to contend with. 

Right now, the Hoosiers are in a four way tie for 5th place.  Once again, it’s a horse-race for the Big Ten Tournament. 

Sophomore Willie Argo needs one stolen base to tie the team record and one more to break it… and three games to do it.  He stole #39 three games ago against Purdue. 

Random Ramblings

In other news, former Illini Toby Gardenhire has been promoted to AAA.  He’ll be reporting to the Twins’ Rochester club.  His father, Ron, manages the Minnesota Twins parent club.

Fightingillini.com confirms what I already suspected.  The orange jerseys are lucky.  According to them, the team is 8-5 when they are wearing those particular unis.  Don’t know why but I always had a good feeling when I see them wearing their bright oranges. 

Go get em Illinois!