From all communications from Columbus, the mood is obviously high in the Illini camp. Let me say from someone who has covered this team for the last five years, I’ve never seen a team put it together the way this Illinois team has. Between you, me, and the Internet, I wasn’t sure what this team was team was capable of at the beginning of the year but Regionals was not on my mind. But next weekend, they are part of it. That’s amazing to me. And as many others have said, it couldn’t have happened to nicer bunch of guys.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten All-Tournament Team has been announced. No surprise here.. The Illini did pretty well.
Starters John Anderson and Corey Kimes were named for their respective outstanding performances. Catcher Adam Davis who besides doing a fine job behind the plate, went 5 for 13 with 3 doubles. Center fielder Willie Argo got 5 hits and stole four bases. I’ve already talked about Justin Parr’s qualifications for the All-Tournament team. I’m glad he was chosen. He ended up 6 for 14 and scored three times.
But Matt Dittman, rumor has it he’s pretty popular now with Illinois baseball fans. Both of his hits were homeruns and one of them was a grand slam against Michigan State for a total of five rbis. And don’t forget, though Dittman (right) didn’t get a hit in the wild Ohio State game, he scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, too.
Who did they leave off? If I could place one more Illini player on the team, who would it be? Well, it would be hard to displace Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen but Josh Parr had an excellent tournament at shortstop making some excellent plays. He went 4 for 13 and drove in three runs and scored two. He might have been my choice.
Here is the complete All-Tournament Team
2011 Big Ten Baseball All-Tournament Team
P – John Anderson, ILL
P – Corey Kimes, ILL
P – Kurt Wunderlich, MSU
P – Tom Windle, MINN
C – Adam Davis, ILL
1B – Matt Dittman, ILL
2B – Matt Puhl, MINN
3B – Torsten Boss, MSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN
OF – Brian DeLucia, OSU
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
DH – Justin Parr, ILL
Congratulations to John, Corey, Adam, Matt, Willie and Justin!!!