Category: University of Illinois Baseball

Illini shortstop Roof plays all nine positions in summer league game

A while back I posted that I got an email from Illini shortstop Shawn Roof while he was in North Carolina playing in a college summer league. In his email, he mentioned that he was trying to convince his coach to play him in all nine positions in one game. Jose Oquendo, anyone? Well, it … Continue reading “Illini shortstop Roof plays all nine positions in summer league game”

A while back I posted that I got an email from Illini shortstop Shawn Roof while he was in North Carolina playing in a college summer league. In his email, he mentioned that he was trying to convince his coach to play him in all nine positions in one game.

Jose Oquendo, anyone?

Well, it looks like he may have gotten his wish. This Fayetteville Swampdogs press release announces that Shawn Roof to Play All Nine Positions on Tuesday.

Roof has played six positions already in regular play this season for the SwampDogs.

Shawn Roof will get a chance to play three positions that he has had little experience with throughout his baseball life. The last time Shawn Roof pitched in a live game was all the way back in his junior season at St. Mary’s High School in Paducah, Kentucky. The University of Illinois tried to convert Roof into a catcher during his sophomore year, but he only caught in two innings. Finally, Roof has never in his baseball career played center field.

Head Coach Darrell Handelsman had some glowing words for Roof:

“Roof has been our most valuable player and our most versatile for the last two years”. Said Head Coach Darrell Handelsman. “This will be a fun way of saying thank you to Roof for all he has done for the SwampDogs.

I’ll have to contact Shawn and find out how that all went.

As for the SwampDogs season, they won a league record 39 games. They went as far as the semi finals where they were defeated by the Thomasville Hi-Toms. For details, check out the SwampDogs website.

Congrats to Illini players Roof, Dom Altobelli, Aaron Martin, and Ryan Snowden for a great season at Fayetteville!!

U of I catcher alum heading to Cubs organization

This is probably one of the best news I’ve heard regarding the Cubs in a long time. They’ve shipped off infielder Neifi Perez to Detroit for a minor league catcher. Yes, I know a lot of Cub fans are happy to rid the team of Neifi but I’m happiest about who they got… 22- year … Continue reading “U of I catcher alum heading to Cubs organization”

This is probably one of the best news I’ve heard regarding the Cubs in a long time. They’ve shipped off infielder Neifi Perez to Detroit for a minor league catcher.

Yes, I know a lot of Cub fans are happy to rid the team of Neifi but I’m happiest about who they got… 22- year old Chris Robinson.

Robinson is a former Illini player . I got a good look at him two seasons ago (his senior year). He definitely was an impact player with the bat. He wasn’t what I would call a “slugger” but he had occasional pop. Mostly a line drive doubles hitter, though. His batting averges for the three years with Illinois were .306, .359, and .353. Not only that both his OBP and Slg improved each year.

His defense is good (he’s got a great arm!) and he was a real leader on the Illinois team. He was chosen to the All-Big 10 First Team in his senior year.

He had a period of adjustment in the minors but this year, he seemed to had hit his stride. He’s hitting .282 in A ball.

Realistically speaking, I don’t know what the plans are for Robbie. Most likely he will report to Daytona, the Cubs’ A affilliate. I’ll be keeping an eye on him from time to time.

U of I players looking toward postseason in summer leagues

Somebody’s sitting in my usual seat tonight. The booth I usually sit at has a picture above it of Bob Richards. He’s a University of Illinois alumni and a former athlete. My question for you is what was his unusual nickname and what was his sport? They go hand in hand. No fair searching the … Continue reading “U of I players looking toward postseason in summer leagues”

Somebody’s sitting in my usual seat tonight. The booth I usually sit at has a picture above it of Bob Richards. He’s a University of Illinois alumni and a former athlete.

My question for you is what was his unusual nickname and what was his sport? They go hand in hand.

No fair searching the web.

The college summer leagues are winding down and many (most?) of the Illini are involved in the playoff picture. The fightingillini.com website has all the details. I won’t bother repeating what’s already there. However, since they didn’t bother linking the team’s or league’s web sites, I took the time to look them up and link them on this post.

Good luck, Illini and look forward to seeing you at the Alumni Game this fall!!

Coastal Plain League

Northwoods League

Central Illinois Collegiate League

The Zealot gets Mail

I occasionally get email and it’s always nice to hear from folks who take the time who read my blog. But the other day, I got a special treat when I received an email from Illini shortstop Shawn Roof. Those who follow my University of Illinois baseball coverage here on the Zealot know that I … Continue reading “The Zealot gets Mail”

I occasionally get email and it’s always nice to hear from folks who take the time who read my blog. But the other day, I got a special treat when I received an email from Illini shortstop Shawn Roof.

Those who follow my University of Illinois baseball coverage here on the Zealot know that I enjoy watching Roof play. I appreciate his hustle and how he his always in the game. Here is Roof’s bio (a bit of trivia: his father is Gene Roof)

So it was a real treat for me to hear from Roof. He told me he stumbled across my site and enjoyed reading our coverage of Illlini baseball.

At this point, Roof is doing good things for the Fayetteville SwampDogs. So I wrote him back asking him how things are going so far in the Coastal Plains League. Here is a snippet of his email:

The season is awesome. We are 25 or 26-9 (it all runs
together now), and we are having a blast. I’m playing
mostly short, but I have played a couple innings at 3rd, a
couple games at 2nd, 4 or 5 at 1st, and even 2 in left
field. I’ll play just about anywhere coach puts me as long
as I get to play. I’ve been begging coach to let me play
all 9 positions in one game, and I think he is going to let
me do it which will be awesome. That’s about all here, and
take care and good to hear back from you.

Hehe, if they let you pitch, Shawn, I definitely want to hear about it.

By the way, Shawn reminded me that the Alumni Game is coming up in September. For those of you in the C-U area, it’s a good chance to get your college baseball fix.

Sum-sum-summertime for the Illini

A few of the Illini baseball players, while not in C-U, have been in college leagues throughout the country. And some have been doing quite well. Take Jake Toohey, for example. Pitching for the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League, he’s made the All-Star team with 13 saves and a 2.12 ERA. The Honkers have … Continue reading “Sum-sum-summertime for the Illini”

A few of the Illini baseball players, while not in C-U, have been in college leagues throughout the country. And some have been doing quite well.

Take Jake Toohey, for example. Pitching for the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League, he’s made the All-Star team with 13 saves and a 2.12 ERA. The Honkers have the best record in their division.

Illini shortstop Shawn Roof has also made the All-Star team in the Coastal Plain League. With Dom Altobelli, Aaron Martin and Ryan Hastings, he has helped the Fayetteville SwampDogs to a first half championship.

Check out more of the summer action by the Illini players at the Fighting Illini Baseball website.

Following the Illini players this summer

Earlier I posted that 15 of the Illini are playing in summer collegiate leagues now. Fightingillini.com has now posted a useful page listing the players and where they are playing complete with clicky goodness so you check out the league’s and team’s web pages. Handy if you want to check out their stats during the … Continue reading “Following the Illini players this summer”


Earlier I posted that 15 of the Illini are playing in summer collegiate leagues now. Fightingillini.com has now posted a useful page listing the players and where they are playing complete with clicky goodness so you check out the league’s and team’s web pages.

Handy if you want to check out their stats during the summer.

By the way, for those who live in the Champaign-Urbana, two Illini playersl are now playing for the Danville Dans in the Central Illinois Collegiate League. Blake Hopkins and Tanner Roarke will call Danville home during the summer. That’s a 40 minute drive and a Danville Dans ballgame is nice outing for the family.

Summer Plans

Now that the Big Ten season is over, some Illini players have plans for the summer.  Some beginning as early as today, fifteen Illinois baseball players will be busy this summer playing in collegiate summer leagues.  Four will play for the Fayetteville (NC) Swampdogs.  In addition, seven will play for teams in the Northwoods League … Continue reading “Summer Plans”

Now that the Big Ten season is over, some Illini players have plans for the summer.  Some beginning as early as today, fifteen Illinois baseball players will be busy this summer playing in collegiate summer leagues.  Four will play for the Fayetteville (NC) Swampdogs.  In addition, seven will play for teams in the Northwoods League in the Wisconsin Minnesota area.

Check out the Illini’s web site for the complete listing of where the Illini will be playing this summer.

 

Illini Win Big Ten Honors

This came out last week but it’s important enough to mention.   Three Illinois players were chosen to the All-Big Ten team.  One made the second team and two made the third team. Here is the full list of the All-Big Ten teams  Ryan Snowden Outfielder Ryan Snowden, who led the Illini in hitting (.352), runs (53) … Continue reading “Illini Win Big Ten Honors”

This came out last week but it’s important enough to mention.   Three Illinois players were chosen to the All-Big Ten team.  One made the second team and two made the third team.

Here is the full list of the All-Big Ten teams

 Ryan Snowden

Outfielder Ryan Snowden, who led the Illini in hitting (.352), runs (53) and doubles (20) was chosen to the second team.  Snowden hails from nearby Matoon, IL. 

 Ryan Hastings

Secondbaseman Ryan Hastings, who also hails from Matoon, was chosen to the third team.  Hastings hit .327 with 33 rbis. 

 Shawn Roof

Also chosen to the third team was shortstop Shawn Roof.  He hit .337 with a .429 OBP. 

This is the first award for all three players.  More important for the Illini, Roof and Snowden are Juniors and Hastings is a Sophomore so we can expect them back next year for more.

 

Big Ten Tourney Wrap-up

Yep, the Michigan Wolverines won the Big Ten Tournament.  The Illini can take heart in the fact that the team they lost to, Minnesota, lasted till the very end.  The Gophers were defeated in the championship game by the Wolverines. Not only that, Minnesota actually defeated Michigan in the second round to force them to the loser’s bracket.  … Continue reading “Big Ten Tourney Wrap-up”

Yep, the Michigan Wolverines won the Big Ten Tournament.  The Illini can take heart in the fact that the team they lost to, Minnesota, lasted till the very end.  The Gophers were defeated in the championship game by the Wolverines.

Not only that, Minnesota actually defeated Michigan in the second round to force them to the loser’s bracket.  Unfortunately, Michigan was able to fight back and win two games against the Gophers to win the tourney championship. 

I Got the Orange and Blues tonight

  RF Trevor Huisinga went 2 for 3 with 2 rbis in a losing cause The Illini season is over.  Purdue eliminated them from the Big Ten tournment, defeating them 10-5.  Never mind the details (maybe later) except that the Illini had a 5-4 lead in the sixth but couldn’t hold it.   It will be … Continue reading “I Got the Orange and Blues tonight”

 

RF Trevor Huisinga went 2 for 3 with 2 rbis in a losing cause

The Illini season is over. 

Purdue eliminated them from the Big Ten tournment, defeating them 10-5.  Never mind the details (maybe later) except that the Illini had a 5-4 lead in the sixth but couldn’t hold it.  

It will be a long bus ride home for them, I’m sure.