Next Game:

	Games #47-50	Fri May 9 5:35pm Sat May 10 12:05 (DH) Sun May 11 12:05pm
Record: 28-18 Big Ten 14-10	vs Ohio State	at Bill Davis Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

 

It’s getting close to crunch time.  Two more series left for the Illini this regular season; one against the team directly behind them and one directly ahead of them.

This weekend, it’s the Buckeyes who are in fourth place in the Big Ten and 2 1/2 games behind Illinois. 

Interestingly, the Ohio State’s web site notes that “The two teams did not meet last year”.  Weird, I remember seeing our guys split with the Buckeyes in ‘07.  Shawn Roof probably remembers that too.  He was hit by the pitcher four times, a Big Ten record.

Take the chance to check out The Buckeye Nine’s review on the series.

Awardy Stuff

Ryan Hastings and Daniel Webb have been named to ESPN Magazine’s Academic All-District 5 first team.  Hastings holds a perfect 4.0 GPA in the sport management graduate program. Webb has a 3.2 GPA in community health.

Congrats to both!

BTW, don’t forget to vote for Ryan for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award!

 

Finally, the lowdown on Ohio State: 

Opponent:	Ohio State University
Nickname:	Buckeyes
Conference:	Big Ten
Head Coach:	Bob Todd (21st year)
Hometown:	Columbus, OH
Current Record:	25-21 (11-12 Big Ten)
Baseball Program website:	Link
Players to watch:	JB Shuck.  He’s a pitcher, outfielder, just about whatever Ohio St needs.  Shuck is hitting .400 with 35 runs scored.  He’s also 4-3 with a team leading 65 Ks.
Team Fact:	Ohio State has been out-homered 2-1 by their opponents but still outscores them 258-224

 

Go Illini!!

Tags: University of Illinois Baseball by The Baseball Zealot
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The first game of the White Sox series hosting the Twins saw Gavin Floyd almost throw a no-hitter. Then last night Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle as Minnesota pounded Chicago 13-1 in a game that started almost two hours late due to rain. Rob had a spare ticket for the series finale today, but I really didn’t want to go, but I went anyway. In addition to Rob’s wife Vicki, Jimmy C came along, getting a freebie from a co-worker Carlos May. Carlos & Jim work together for the Post Office.

Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but then Dick went to the bathroom, and sure enough Jermaine Dye hit a homer to left to cut the lead in half. Then Juan Uribe hit a two run bomb, Kevin Slowey would’ve been better off walking him on a 3-2 pitch.

John Danks was lifted in favor of Octavio Dotel, who struckout five in two innings of scoreless relief. Scott Linebrink & Bobby Jenks worked the final two frames without allowing a run. Meanwhile the Sox tallied thrice more. One run came in when Uribe tookout the Twins pivot man on a sure doubleplay ball with one out and the bags juiced. Another score occured when Alexei Ramirez stole second and came home on an RBI single up the middle by Carlos Quentin. One more came home to make the final 6-2.

A weird play looked like it would be a huge break for the White Sox when Paulie Konerko checked his swing on a 3-1 pitch with Quentin on 2nd & Jim Thome on 1st with nobody out, the ball was low so both runners moved up, but the pitch was called a strike after appealing to the firstbase umpire. The Twins pitcher then tried tagging Quentin & Thome while they were standing on 3rd & 2nd respectively. The Twins manager was ejected after getting upset when the Sox runners were allowed to stay on their advantageous sacks. Konerko tapped weakly to third, Dye was intentionally passed, Nick Swisher lived up to his name by striking out, and Joe Crede was retired on a popup to end the threat.

Checkout www.whitesox.com/fanfoto 5/8/08 gallery 3

Tags: White Sox by Teddy Ballgame
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