Illini pitcher does good
The Fayetteville Observer has a nice article about Illini pitcher Ben Reeser. In between pitching for the Fayetteville Swampdogs, he is busy helping out the local Habitat for Humanity.
Deja vu: Illini sign Canadian catcher
The University of Illinois have signed catcher Aaron Johnson from New Brunswick, Canada. Aaron will be the third catcher in recent memory to don the orange and blue tools of ignorance from Canada. The first two worked out so well I’m not surprised the Illini went north again. Both Chris…
Illini Recruiters bring on Kansas Product
Daniel Parker It’s recruiting season and the University of Illinois baseball staff are busy. They’ve just received a letter of intent from Daniel PArker. Parker is a SS/OF from Lawrence, Kansas. Assistant coach Eric Snider was the key recruiter on this project and is high on Parker. “He’s an offensive…
Joe Mercurio off to U of Maine: A case of bad timing?
News came out that last year’s backup catcher, Joe Mercurio has just signed with University of Maine. From Lower Hudson Online: For much of their childhood, Joe Mercurio and Myckie Lugbauer were the best catchers their age in Putnam County. Their skill eventually extended far beyond the county’s borders; as…
Illini All-Stars
July is All-Star time not only for the Majors but also for the college leagues. University of Illinois is well represented on a few All-Star teams throughout the country. Scott Shaw and Joe Bonadonna faced off against each other last Wednesday in the Northwoods League All-Star Game. Shaw, who is…
Saturday night’s all right for ex-Illini Blomquist
Former University of Illinois starting pitcher Brian Blomquist is on a roll. He’s had four straight quality starts for the Southern Illinois Miners culminating in Saturday night’s outing. That night, he pitched a four-hit shutout against the River City Rascals. “It had been a year since I had thrown in…
Illini Summer Diamond Notes: Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw pitching during the Big Ten Tournament Fightingillini.com has starting pitcher Scott Shaw up this week for their regular series of University of Illinois baseball player reporting back from their collegiate leagues. Shaw is pitching for the Waterloo Bucks in the Northwoods League. He’s doing a good job up…
Baseball Zealot Radio interviews Andrew Hartwell of Summer Ball
Northwoods League. Coastal Plain League. Central Illinois Collegiate League. I’ve written about about these leagues and others like them. They’re all college summer leagues and they serve a very important purpose in developing college baseball players. In this episode of Baseball Zealot Radio, I interview Andrew Hartwell who, as far…
Os-Kee-Wow-wow hardball news
Turns out Ben Reeser and Aaron Martin aren’t the only Illini doing well this summer. Take a look at Joey Bonadonna who is spending his dog days playing for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League. Bonadonna has already broken the team single season record for stolen bases. He did…
Reeser, Martin mowing ’em down in the Coastal Plain League
Brian from Big Ten Hardball pointed out to me that University of Illinois’ Ben Reeser is putting up some good numbers for the Fayetteville Swampdogs in the Coastal Plain League. He’s 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. He’s leading the CPL in ERA. Swampdog teammate and Illini…