There’s some exciting news on the recruiting front. Casey Fletcher, son of former Illini Darrin Fletcher and grandson of another former Illini Tom Fletcher has accepted an offer to join the Illini baseball program as a preferred walk-on.
Darrin Fletcher (right) at 2010 Alumni Day with another Illini great, Donn Pall
I don’t need to tell big-time Illinois Baseball fans who Darrin Fletcher is. Just look at Illinois Baseball record books and you’ll see his name all over the place. Playing from 1985-87, he still holds the Illinois record for career batting average with a .392 mark. In 1987, he walloped the ball at a .497 pace, also still a record. He also holds the second highest career mark for rbis (behind Dave Payton) with 199.
Will Casey Fletcher follow in his dad’s footsteps? It’s hard to tell but he’s got a good start. As a sophomore at Kankakee Community College, he finished the season second among all NJCAA Division II players with 69 rbis. Casey is also available for bullpen duty as he is the closer for the KCC Cavaliers. He already has gotten All-American honors as well as All-Region honors.
Illinois has seen its share of familial connections. Most recently, the Parr brothers, Josh, Justin and Jordan have proven very productive, to say the least. But will the shadow of his father’s success put undue pressure on Casey? Or will it spur him on to greater things?
I’m looking forward to finding out.