Illini, Cappetta take two from Wildcats

Illinois took their second straight Big Ten series as they defeated the Northwestern Wildcats two games to one at Evanston. Illinois lost Friday night’s affair 9-2 but it seemed they were ready for revenge Saturday as they scored four runs in first inning.   That’s all they would need as John Anderson (left) pitched his third [...]

Midweek Report: Two re-matches on the schedule

Illinois baseball had a pretty rough Sunday against Michigan. In game 1, they were shut out for the third time this year, 3-0.  Pete Cappetta did manage to bang out two hits in the losing cause.  John Anderson does deserve some credit for his eight inning complete game where he only gave up seven hits [...]

Davis, Dittman, Hohl win wild one for Illinois

The smile on Adam Davis as he scores on Matt Dittman’s homer says it all When I got to Illinois Field to watch the last game of this weekend’s Illinois-Iowa series and Illinois had already gotten a 5-0 lead before I was situated, I thought I was in for a nice, comfortable win for the [...]

Sheehan’s 9th inning walk gives Illini win in home opener

Pat Sheehan gets congratulated by his teammates for having a good eye Wow, if the rest of Illinois baseball season is as exciting as today’s home opener, the EMTs are going to have to stock up on chest paddles.  What a heart pounder!  In the bottom of the ninth, Illini DH Pat Sheehan walked with [...]

Photos of Tuesday’s practice

I wandered in to see how the clubhouse addition was coming along and then watched some practice, too.  Here are some photos.  You see Brandon Hohl at his familiar thirdbase position at the top.    Coach Westray imparting some sage advice to some of the pitchers.   The outfielders were shagging some fly balls with [...]

Photos of Friday’s full practice

Took some time after work to watch the team in full practice today.  Despite what it looks like in the top photo it was pretty much all business.  For example, here’s Ditt running the bases, a fine sight for any Illini baseball fan: I’ve put all (the good) photos from today in the photo gallery.  [...]

Summer leagues can have a lasting effect

Today’s number on the sports page of the News-Gazette was 44.  That’s the number of rbis that Adam Davis (left) accrued this summer while playing for the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League.  That was good for sixth in the league.  He accomplished this in part behind a .328 average.  In case you’re wondering, Matt [...]

Dittman, Davis and Parr honored by Northwoods League

Congrats to Adam Davis, Josh Parr and Matt Dittman who made the Northwoods League postseason All-Star team. All three had excellent summers for their respective teams.  For the Rochester Honkers, Matt Dittman hit .332 with 44 rbis.  Parr, who was with the Madison Mallards, hit .307 and scored 41 runs and stole 21 bases.  Also [...]

Mish-mash of summer happenings

Congrats to Brian de la Torriente who was named to the Prospect League’s West Division All-Star team.  The East and West played to a 3-3 tie on July 6.  de la pitched one inning allowing a run and striking out two batters.  The Northwoods League All-Star classic is coming up in one week.  It’s no [...]

Illini crush Chicago State 18-2 in home opener

Wow, the University of Illinois baseball team sure knows how to put on a show for their home opener, eh?  The Illini crushed the Chicago State Cougars last night by the score of 18-2.  The outcome of the game almost seemed apparent by the end of the second inning.  By then, Illinois had gotten off [...]