Category: University of Illinois Baseball

What a lovely day it was for a ballgame! Of course it would have been nicer had we not missed the first few innings because I forgot my Go Illini card at home.

Reliever Brian Long

By the time we got there Brian Long had things well in hand. He was lights out in relief allowing just one hit over five innings. It was his first win of the season.

But what we missed in the first was a two-out rally by the heart of the order that scored three Illini runs. That rally included a Shawn Roof HBP rbi and a two run base knock by Ryan Hastings.

Indiana never led after that despite scoring two in the the third. Illinois managed to put four more runs on the board including a 3 run fifth inning started by a Ryan Snowden double.

Lars Davis was 2 for 4 with 2 runs and a rbi. Omar Kadir came in to pitch a perfect ninth. Final score 7-2.

SAFE!

With the ball coming in and Joe Bonadonna kicking up dirt, this is pretty awesome shot. I can’t take credit for it though. My 10-year son who is a budding photographer took it. I gave him the camera for a while so a lot of the shots (mostly in the middle) you will see in this week’s edition of The Baseball Zealot Photo Gallery are his. Of course, of all the photos taken between us, he would be the one to take the money shot.

By the way, nice hustle by Bonadonna. The ball trickled out to the outfield due an errant throw but it didn’t go far. Bonadonna took advantage of it and was safe at third.

A little Fun after the Win

Today kids in the stadium took part in an annual tradition. They got to play a little wiffleball with the players. It’s one of the coolest promotions they do, I think and the kids (an the players, too I bet) have a blast. My kids did it. My little girl took her swing ran the bases then decided that secondbase was the place for her and set herself up right there to the right of the base.

Thanks to the program for doing this.

I introduce Shawn Roof to the Missus

Shortstop Shawn Roof is always kind enough to come over and say hi when he has time. Today he came over after the game so I introduced him to my wife.

He immediately asked about my son and asked if he was ok. We assured him he was ok.

I asked him about the team’s chances for the tournament. He told me that since Michigan State had swept the Wildcats, they certainly aren’t out of it yet. I asked about his brother remembering that he has a brother who is a Spartan baseball player. His name his Eric and plays 3B and catcher (someone to watch next weekend folks).

I wished him good luck for the coming weekend. My wife said “He is such a polite man. I’m touched he asked about our son”

I’m touched he reads my blog. ;-)

It wasn’t pretty but the Illini beat Indiana in this weekend’s opener. Illinois had six errors in the game. Starter Tanner Roark continued his dominance during first games against Big Ten teams as he got the win in 7 2/3 innings. He gave up 5 runs but only 2 were earned.

After giving up a quick 3 runs in the first to the Hoosiers, Roark settled down and pitched quite effectively.

Shawn Roof celebrates with Kyle Hudson after he scores during Illinois’ 4 run rally in the 6th

Down 4-2, the Illini put together a four-run rally in the bottom of sixth which put them ahead for good. Jake Toohey came with 2 out in the 8th and pitched zeroes with 2 K’s for the save. The Illini win it 6-5!

DH Daniel Webb put up some good numbers going 3-4 with a run, a double and 2 rbis.

The game wasn’t without its dramatics especially for the Zealot family. My 10 year old son took a Kyle Hudson foul ball on the noggin. My 7 year old daughter was heads up and recovered the ball. Me ‘n Mrs. Zealot took the kiddo to the ambulance where they were nice enough to give him an ice pack.

Don’t worry, folks. I think he’s ok, now.

Double the fun tomorrow with a doubleheader against Indiana at 3pm at Illinois Field.

I took some photos (mostly before the game). You can see them at The Baseball Zealot’s Photo Gallery

Followup:

This quote just came out from Coach Hartleb regarding Tanner Roark’s performance and specifically the first inning when he gave up 3 runs (one earned):

“If you look at Tanner’s first inning, it was a good inning for him, we just didn’t play any defense at all,” Hartleb said. “The thing with Tanner is he didn’t let any of that stuff bother him. After we made the three errors in that inning, he just kept throwing strikes, staying down in the zone and he kept his composure.”

Well said. With the three runs Indiana scored in the first, it was easy to overlook Roark’s effort.

And I can’t forget this. With a steal of thirdbase in the sixth inning, Shawn Roof broke the single season record for stolen bases with 36. The swipe was key, too. He then scored on a sacrifice fly.

…they’re going to need it for this coming weekend’s series against ranked Michigan.

It was an offensive display for the University of Illinois and a lack of fundamentals on defense for Greenville. Either way you look at it, Illinois crushed them 16-1.

There was no doubt from the beginning as the Illini scored 6 in the first batting around in the order. Add three more runs in the second inning and well, the game was pretty much over by then.

Joe Bonadonna legs it toward third base

Five Illini had 2 or more hits with Ryan Hastings going 4 for 5. DH Lars Davis went 2 for 3 with 3 runs and 3 rbis.

Coach Hartleb used the opportunity to have his pitchers see some action. Starter Aaron Martin came out after four innings and by the end of the game, six pitchers saw time on the mound against Greenville.

I took some photos. You can see them at The Baseball Zealot’s Photo Gallery

The win was great but the real story is the upcoming series against first place Michigan this weekend. It’s important because the season it winding down and the Big Ten tournament is approaching. As it stands now, the Illini are in sixth place, the last qualifying spot to enter the tourney. They are only one game ahead of Purdue. Even a split against powerhouse Michigan would, in my opinion, be a moral victory and would keep the Illini in place.

Lars Davis came over to chat about the upcoming Michigan series

Before the game, I called Lars Davis over and he was nice enough to come over to chat for a few minutes. He had a positive outlook for the upcoming series and was hoping to win a couple (maybe more) from them. I told him I thought he was having a fantastic year and mentioned that he was second in the batting race to Mike Mee. He acknowledged that he knew that but didn’t elaborate.

In hindsight, I probably should have phrased that differently. Lars, I meant that in a good way.

Later, Shawn Roof came by my usual post at the left field fence and said hi. I mentioned the Michigan series and he said he was ready to “take it to ’em!”

I like how these Illini players approach the game. You can ask them about a second rate non-conference school and they’ll talk very cautiously about them saying that you can never be too careful about some of these teams. Then they’ll bring up a game from the past where they played a team that they were “supposed” to beat but somehow they lost. So they can never be too careful. Case in point Robert Morris College who they beat by a slim 4-3 margin this year.

Then you bring up ranked, first place Michigan and they have all kinds of positive vibes and and feel they can take on the world.

I like that attitude.

Here’s a summary for this weekend’s series against Michigan from the Fighting Illini website

Go Illini!!

Ok, where was everyone last night?? Official attendance was only 669 at Illinois Field to see the University of Illinois defeat the Eastern Illinois Panthers 8-0.

Ben Reeser gave the Illini 4 lights-out innings

The Illinois got some fantastic pitching from starter Ben Reeser (4 IP, 3 H) as well as relievers Scott Shaw (4 IP, 1 H) and Jake Toohey (1 IP, 0 H). No Illini pitcher allowed a walk.

Ryan Snowden scores a run during Illinois’ 5-run rally in the 6th inning

Panther pitcher Alex Guttosch looked pretty good until the 6th inning when Illinois put together a 5-run rally. For the game, six players had multiple hit games including Kyle Hudson who went 3 for 3 with a run, an rbi.

Illinois’ defense was on top of things, too. The first two innings, Eastern got a man on but both were quickly erased by a 6-4-3. As a matter of fact, despite four hits by Eastern, Illinois pitchers faced only one hitter over the minimum over the course of the game.

The win gives Illinois an overall winning record (18-17, 7-7 conference). Tonight they play Blackburn College. I had a friend stay with me a few days ago who grew up near Blackburn. He says it has (had?) an enrollment of around 800 so I don’t expect much of a battle. Then again, I felt the same thing about Robert Morris and they gave quite a fight.

I took some photos at the game against Eastern. You can see them at The Baseball Zealot’s Photo Gallery.

Update: University of Illinois defeated Blackburn Wednesday night by the score of 9-3. They got five good innings out of freshman pitcher Kevin Manson and Lars Davis continues his season long tear going 3 for 5.