Brittain Resorts Invitational: Illini look for wins down south

Illinois Baseball is looking to make some ground this weekend at the Brittain Resorts Invitational in Conway, South Carolina.  Hosted by the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, the Illini will get four games in and will try to improve on their 1-1 record after their shortened first weekend of the season.  Last weekend in St. Louis, the Illini were only able to get in two games in the form of a doubleheader. 

This time around, hopefully the weather and travel plans will work in the team’s favor and they will get in a full series’ worth.  Illinois will take on Coastal Carolina twice, as well as West Virginia and VCU in the Friday through Sunday tournament. 

Probable rotation:

Friday: Andy Fisher (0-0, 0.00)

Saturday: Quinn Snarskis (0-0, 0.00) Ty Weber (0-0, 3.86)

Sunday: Cyrillo Watson (0-1, 4.50)

 

Fisher and Snarskis were rewarded with their decent performances out of the pen last weekend.  In return, they get a chance to prove themselves from the get go. 

 

Fighting Illini weekend preview

 

 

 

 

What will happen in Conway?

Well, first of all, I hope we’ll have good weather.   There’s a 30% chance of rain on Saturday but other than that it will be sunny and warm throughout the weekend. 

The weekend also calls for some tough baseball.  There are some good teams in this weekend’s lineup.  Coastal Carolina’s baseball’s website still touts their 2016 national championship (don’t knock it, I’m sure Illinois would do it, too).  So far, they are 3-1 in 2018.  Their one loss?  It’s to Big Ten Indiana. 

West Virginia was actually just knocked out of  the polls having dropped two out of three to Jacksonville (Fla).  VCU is just looking to improve on a 1-3 record after getting swept by Liberty U. 

 

Follow the games:  @IlliniBaseball  || WDWS AM-1400  || Fighting Illini Sports Network

 

Random Ramblings

This just in… the 2018 Class of Illini Hall of Famers has been announced and Darrin Fletcher is among the honorees!

Fletcher who was drafted from Illinois in 1987 went on to play in the majors for 14 years.  He has his name littered all over the Illinois Baseball Record book.  

Most notably, Fletcher holds the Illinois baseball record for batting average for a season with an astounding .497 mark in 1987.  That season helped raise his three-year average to .392, highest career average among all Illini. 

With a .269 average and 124 career homeruns, Fletcher went on to have a very solid career in the majors primarily with the Expos and the Blue Jays. 

 

 

It’s worth noting that Darrin’s son, Casey is now Illinois’ volunteer assistant coach.  The Fletcher legacy continues! 

Congratulations to Darrin Fletcher!