All three having nothing but good things to say about their time here at the U of I.  The article pretty much reads like a testimonial for the Illinois Baseball program and how it prepared them for the rigors of professional baseball.

Bonus:  it includes the 2011 Baseball Highlight Video, too!

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 Diamondbacks, was on hand to watch the guys and no doubt keep an eye on his brothers Justin and Jordan.

Josh regaled John and I with the story of how he got hit in the side of the face with a pitch while playing for the Missoula Osprey.  Parr said the side of  face ballooned up after the injury due to the shattered cheekbone.  As you can see from the photo, he’s healed up well.  He’s in good spirits too, true to Josh’s form. 

Josh isn’t in C-U for long.  He heading to Arizona for instructional league which starts Sunday. 

Alex Lincoln prepares to nail a runner

Speaking of recovering from injury, I spoke briefly to Nick Chmielewski (let’s see, double check spelling, then add to spell check dictionary) today.  We haven’t seen much of Nick in the last two seasons.  After three appearances in 2010, he went down with an arm injury and had surgery.  Now eighteen months later, Nick is in uniform and says his arm is feeling good.  He registers as a senior this year so we have him for one more year.  Thank goodness because we could use him. 

Drasen Johnson unleashes one from the mound

All in all, the guys are looking good.  The Orange and Blue World Series is tentatively scheduled for October 3-5.  I’m looking forward to some competitive head to head action.

More photos from today can be found here.

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 League division.

Tanner Roark and his Harrisburg Senators (Nationals Double-A) clinched the earlier this month.  They won the Western Division of the Eastern League on September 1.  They had the help of big star Stephen Strasburg who pitched the clinching game.

The Missoula Osprey and Josh Parr (Diamondbacks, Rookie)are in the midst of a playoff series against the Great Falls Voyagers for the Pioneer League North Division title.  Josh is still in rehab from his injury from earlier in the year so it’s doubtful he’ll get in the game but I’m sure he’s in the dugout doing everything he can.

Good luck to all!!!

In other news, Kyle Hudson got his first stolen base the other day.  The first of many to come, I’m sure.  And don’t starting counting now but he has a three game hitting streak going.

The Baltimore media ran a photo with him in it a few days ago.

No doubt, Coach Hartleb was sorry to see sorry to see Tilson go but wished him well:

“It’s one of those situations when a high school player makes a decision to give up an opportunity and take advantage of another opportunity.  The money has to be such that they feel they can give up their education and give up their college experience.

“Like I told Charlie, it’s bittersweet from a program standpoint. It’s disappointing. At the same time, I’m happy for Charlie.”

Monday was the deadline for drafted players to sign with their teams.  It was reported that Tilson signed at 5pm that day.  From New Trier HS, he hit .406 this past season with 42 runs and stole 30 bases.

Parr injury update

The Springfield Journal Register has a feature article on former Illini shortstop Josh Parr who is now playing for the Single A Missoula Osprey.  A few weeks ago, Parr took a pitch to the face and as a result, broke bones in his cheek as well as a tooth.

Parr as his usual nature, was positive about the whole thing:

“I got out of the way just in time,’’ Parr said. “A broken cheek bone is a good thing. When I look back at the film, I didn’t have much time to move. I moved just enough where the cheek bone took the damage rather than the orbital bone. I could have had eye problems.’’

Right now, he’s not playing but travels with the team.  Chewing is painful so shakes and soft foods are a necessity.  Parr hopes to get back into action by the end of the season.

Former Illini Parr, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks this summer, is now playing for the Class A Missoula Osprey.  So far, he’s done well, playing every day and hitting .292.

Case in point, I saw Adam Davis’ tweet today that he is leaving for Aberdeen to play for the Ironbirds, the Orioles’ Class A short season affiliate.

Corey Kimes got a jump up, too.  If you look at the Elizabethton Twins roster, you’ll find him there.  Elizabethton (TN) is the rookie league affiliate of the Twins organization.

You’ll find Josh Parr on the Missoula Osprey roster.  Missoula (MT) is the rookie affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Last word about Chris Pack was that he was signed as a free agent by the Marlins and was to report to the GCL Marlins.  His name hasn’t appeared on the roster yet though.

This is probably as good of time as any to point out the fightingillini.com’s “Illini in the Pros” webpage.  The link is right there on the Illini baseball home page but it can be easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it.  As it succinctly states, the page lists all former Illini baseball players who are playing professionally and where.  The handy part is that it includes a link to their MiLB.com bio page.

The players from the Class of 2011 are not listed yet and probably for good reason.  Not all of them are settled with their teams quite yet.  Even so, it’s impressive that so many alums are playing in professional baseball.

In other news:

Congrats to Thomas Lindauer who drove in three runs with a double last night.  Lindauer’s Waterloo Bucks defeated the Madison Mallards 9-0.  Must have been payback for Argo’s and Parr’s performance on Wednesday.

Technically, they may not be the BEST quality photos I’ve taken but they are my favorites from this year.

The sun setting in the west beyond Illinois Field after a game.

Anyone who’s followed Josh Parr knows he’s made amazing progress in the field in just one year.  He’s saved Illinois many runs with his glove.

Willie Argo getting some air time stealing second.

I love getting shots of emotion.  This photo of Willie Argo was taken right after he scored in the comeback win in our first home game against Indiana State.

I just like the look on Pete Cappetta’s face as he motors into third base.

Matt Dittman gets a quick respite as he stands safely on third base.

All eyes follow the foul ball.

It might be worth looking at a larger version of photo.  The look on each player’s face shows how excited they are about Casey McMurray’s homerun in the last game of the year against Indiana.

Wes Braun comes off the field after one of many successful innings off the mound.

Matt Dittman mentally prepping for the first game against Indiana.

Josh Parr slides in for a triple against Indiana.

Pitcher Bryan Roberts was out for 2011 but he played an integral role in the dugout keeping it real.

Iowa head coach Jack Dahm expresses his opinion to the umpire

I don’t know why I like this photo of Brandon Hohl standing in the edge of the dugout but it’s one of my favorites.  .

Justin Parr always as an intense look on his face when on the field.  Here he his after scoring against Iowa.

These photos aren’t in any order of preference but I am saving the best for last.  This shot of Matt Dittman’s Big Ten title-clinching homerun trot is one of favorite photos I’ve taken.  There’s something about a smile on player knowing what he has helped accomplished for his team.

Your favorite??

Congratulations to Josh Parr who just signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday.  Shortstop Parr, who just finished his junior year with the University of Illinois, signed quickly after the Dbacks drafted him in the 12th round on Tuesday.

You can expect to see Parr soon in the short season single-A Northwest League where he will be playing for the Yakima (Washington) Bears.  Their season begins on June 17th.

Congratulations, Josh!!

Adam Davis
Position	Catcher
Round/Overall Pick	11th/335
MLB Team	Baltimore Orioles

Josh Parr
Position	Shortstop
Round/Overall Pick	12th/364
MLB Team	Arizona Diamondbacks

Corey Kimes
Position	Pitcher
Round/Overall Pick	18th/568
MLB Team	Minnesota Twins

Also, Illinois recruit Charlie Tilson was chosen in the second round (79th overall) by the Cardinals.

Overall, the Big Ten has had nine players drafted so far.  Illinois leads the conference with three and Michigan State has two.  It’s definitely a testament to the idea that scouts are looking for proven winners.

The draft concludes tomorrow.

Congrats to Adam, Josh and Corey!

Let’s take a quick look at both games of the Fullerton Regionals so far:

Cal State Fullerton 10  Illinois 4

If you didn’t watch or listen to the game on Friday night, you might be forgiven if you thought this was a blowout by the Titan squad.  The game was a whole lot closer than the score makes it appear.  In fact, it wasn’t until the 8th inning when CSF put the writing on the wall when they sealed with three runs. Until then, it only a three run game.

And before that, Illinois had control of the game.  Matt Dittman gave us more of the same with a 2nd inning homerun giving Illinois a 2-0 lead.  Fullerton did score four runs in the fourth and fifth innings but Illinois battled and tied it up on a Casey McMurray single in the sixth.

Unfortunately, that was about all the Illini magic left for this game.  Titan pitcher Tyler Pill held the Illini to no more runs and even managed to drive in two of his own.

Illinois 5  Kansas State 3

On Saturday, the Kansas State Wildcats scored the first run of the game in the second but once Illinois erased that lead in the next half inning, there seemed to be no doubt who was in control of the game.

In the third, Josh Parr followed up a Davis Hendrickson triple with a double of his own.  Parr scored later on a sac fly thanks to brother Justin.  The next inning, the Illini scored three more keyed by a triple by Josh Parr, again.

For the game, Josh Parr was 2 for 4 with a double , triple and three rbis.

But let’s face it, the real story of Saturday’s game was John Anderson.  He went into the 9th inning (rumor has it he didn’t want to come out).  Only giving up one earned run for those eight full innings, the win gives Anderson an 8-6 record.

Chris Pack came in for a perfect ninth inning for his 4th save of the year.

What now?

What now?  Basically in the context of the Fullerton Regional, Illinois is in ‘can’t lose’ mode.  Cal State Fullerton who was upset by Stanford yesterday 1-0, is on the docket for tonight.  Both teams are 1-1 in the tournament.  Let’s put it this way, Illinois has a chance to eliminate the Titans from the Regionals.  If that’s not incentive for Corey Kimes and the Illini, I don’t know what is.  Revenge could be sweet.

The winner of tonight’s game will go on to play Stanford but would have to beat them twice to advance to the Super Regionals.  Sound familiar?  Illinois was in Stanford’s enviable position in the Big Ten Tournament with Michigan State.

Here are the NCAA Regional brackets.  Click on the Fullerton bracket for a more detailed look.

Tonight’s game is on Sunday 6:00pm CT.  You can watch it on ESPNU and ESPN3. Fightingillini.com has the live stats and audio.

Go Illini!