Illinois Baseball Report

Kelly Norris Jones rounds the paths Yes, baseball in January. On Tuesday, I got word that the Illinois Baseball team was practicing at Illinois Field so I grabbed the Canon and got out to shoot some photos.   Two hurlers that the Illini will depend on in the 2012 season:  Kevin Johnson and Nick Chmielewski [...]

Filed under: Spring Practice on February 2nd, 2012 | Leave a Comment! »

As someone who works at the University of Illinois and lives four blocks from campus, I can tell you the atmosphere has really changed in the past week.  U of I students have been back at classes for a week for the 2011 fall semester and campus is hustling!  Good luck to the baseball team [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on August 27th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

Hard core big league fans look forward to when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.  I guess the closest that college baseball has is when players begin full team practice… and that happened for the first time yesterday. Players and coaches convened at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility (complete with the identical Field Turf [...]

Filed under: Spring Practice on January 29th, 2011 | Leave a Comment! »

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 [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on September 21st, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

Some photos I took today watching the Illini practice: It was good to see #1 Illinois Baseball fan John Santas out there checking the status of the team.  He says going out to the ballpark to see the team practice “makes the day that much better”.  I’d have to agree.  For those who don’t know [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on September 9th, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

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.  [...]

Filed under: Off Season Happenings on September 3rd, 2010 | Leave a Comment! »

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: Off Season Happenings on August 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! »