As someone who works at the University of Illinois and lives four blocks from campus, I can tell you the atmosphere has really changed in the past week. U of I students have been back at classes for a week for the 2011 fall semester and campus is hustling! Good…
Hard core big league fans look forward to when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. I guess the closest that college baseball has is when players begin full team practice… and that happened for the first time yesterday. Players and coaches convened at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility (complete…
I wandered in to see how the clubhouse addition was coming along and then watched some practice, too. Here are some photos. You see Brandon Hohl at his familiar thirdbase position at the top. Coach Westray imparting some sage advice to some of the pitchers. The outfielders were…
Some photos I took today watching the Illini practice: It was good to see #1 Illinois Baseball fan John Santas out there checking the status of the team. He says going out to the ballpark to see the team practice “makes the day that much better”. I’d have to agree. …
Took some time after work to watch the team in full practice today. Despite what it looks like in the top photo it was pretty much all business. For example, here’s Ditt running the bases, a fine sight for any Illini baseball fan: I’ve put all (the good) photos from…
I stopped by Illinois Field today after work to observe practice. The team was still in individual workouts so I’ll hold off on posting photos for the time being. Coach Snider tells me that full team practice will probably begin after Wednesday. The players look good. Specifically, Matt Dittman looks…
Today was my first trip out to Illinois Field. The second I stepped outside the building I work, I heard the ping of the bats (yes, I work that close). I walked across the cemetery that separated me from the field and voila!, I was there. It’s been a good…