For those who want to follow the Illini ballplayers during the summer, fightingillini.com has posted a handy web page listing which summer teams they will be playing with. It comes complete with links to the teams’ and leagues’ web sites so finding their schedules and boxscores is only a few links away.
Nineteen Illinois players will be representing ten teams in seven different leagues. Not surprisingly, the Northwoods League is a big player as they traditionally have been. Ten Illini will be playing for a NWL team including the Madison Mallards who have four.
Geographically, the leagues span the country. While most like the NWL and Chicago Suburban Baseball League are in the Midwest, Kelly Norris-Jones will find himself playing in the West Coast League, Drasen Johnson will play in the Rocky Mountain League while Will Strack (and Corey Kimes if he doesn’t get signed) will head back East to meet up with the Fayetteville Swampdogs in the Coastal Plain League (North Carolina).
Looks like Tyler Hamer is already off to a good start for the Lake Erie Monarchs. He pitched three scoreless innings in relief and got the win on Wednesday.
Good Luck Illini!!