Some last minute weekend notes and is Tanner Libby a trend-setter?

A few last minute notes before the Illini start the Keith LeClair Classic tomorrow:
According to fightingillini.com, Illinois is going with the same starters from last weekend…. Will Strack, Brian de la Torriente, and Kevin Johnson.  Strack will have a tough job going against an East Carolina team that is ranked #21 right now.  Their 4-3 [...]

Lars Davis has big role in Nuts win

Former University of Illinois catcher Lars Davis has had rough second half with the Modesto Nuts at the Advanced A level but Wednesday night it looks like he’s beginning to make amends. 
In front of a home crowd against the Bakersfield Blaze, he went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles.  Davis also drove home a [...]

Former Illini starting out well in A ball

Former Illini SS Shawn Roof is making the most of his second year in the minors.  Currently, Roof is assigned to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Detroit’s A team.
Right now, Roof is leading the club with a .409 batting average.  Hopefully, management is now starting to take notice.  The Lakeland Flying Tigers Blog, a team [...]

Former Illini Davis joins Asheville Tourists

Former Illinois catcher Lars Davis has been assigned to the roster of Class A Asheville Tourists.
Davis, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2007 with the Illini, will join Asheville, which a farm team of the Colorado Rockies.  They are managed by Joe Mikulik.
By the way, if Mikulik’s name sounds familiar, this [...]

Big Ten season starts this weekend for Illini

Wikoff and Altobelli at the ready against Indiana State

Next Game:

Game #16

Fri 3/28 2:05

Sat 3/29 12:05 DH

Sun 3/30 12:05 DH

Record:  9-6

vs Michigan State University

at Oldsmobile Park, Lansing, MI

Note:  Before I get started, Illini fans should know that Friday’s game at Oldsmobile Park has been postponed due to snow.  They will play a doubleheader on [...]

Deja vu: Illini sign Canadian catcher

The University of Illinois have signed catcher Aaron Johnson from New Brunswick, Canada.  Aaron will be the third catcher in recent memory to don the orange and blue tools of ignorance from Canada. 
The first two worked out so well I’m not surprised the Illini went north again.  Both Chris Robinson and Lars Davis were All-Big [...]

Joe Mercurio off to U of Maine: A case of bad timing?

News came out that last year’s backup catcher, Joe Mercurio has just signed with University of Maine.
From Lower Hudson Online:

For much of their childhood, Joe Mercurio and Myckie Lugbauer were the best catchers their age in Putnam County. Their skill eventually extended far beyond the county’s borders; as seniors they were two of [...]

Illini Davis, Roof signed within a week

Within a week of the First-Year Player draft, both Illini players who have been drafted have already signed contracts with their respective teams.
According to the Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies signed 27 of the draft picks including catcher Lars Davis who they called an “intriguing catcher from Illinois”.
And from what I [...]

Lars Davis goes early in Amateur Draft

This shouldn’t be a big surprise. University of Illinois catcher Lars Davis went in the 3rd round (102nd overall) of the First-Year Player draft yesterday. The lucky team is the Colorado Rockies.

I’ve probably said it before but I’ve never seen a college player exude professionalism the way Davis does. When he is playing, he simply [...]

My final thoughts on the Big Ten Tournament

Shawn Roof and me
Let me first say I had a fantastic time. This was my second Big Ten Tournament and the first time I’ve traveled to see the Illini baseball team play.
Every Illinois fan wishes they could have won the tournament but all things considered, I thought they played well. They were able to defeat [...]