Illinois baseball | The Baseball Zealot

Illinois tagged by the Gophers

Thursday, Illinois entered the loser’s bracket at the Big Ten Tournament as they lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-3.

Starter Mike Stankiewicz

The Gophers got to starter Mike Stankiewicz early as they hit him for 5 runs in the first inning and four runs before he got his first out. Brian Long replaced Stanky in the second but didn’t fare much better as he gave up 5 runs in 4 innings.

Down 10-0, the Illini did manage to make it interesting by scoring 3 runs in the 7th prompting a Minnesota call to the bullpen. To make things more intriguing, the bases were loaded with Lars Davis up. But no one can expect even Lars Davis to be the hero in EVERY game. Davis hit a deep fly out to center.

Ben Reeser

On the positive side, relievers Ben Reeser and Kevin Manson did a fine job once the damage was done. Combined they allowed no runs and two hits in 3 innings. Brandon Wikoff and Mike Rohde both had two hits.

All in all though, it was not a fun game. Down by seven by the second inning makes it really difficult. I kept thinking back to last Sunday thinking anything could happen. Well, it didn’t.

Some frustrated Illini after the Minnesota game.

The good news is that the tournament is double elimination where you get a second chance. The Illini next play Friday night at It isn’t clear. Ohio State upset Michigan Thursday night 4-2. That means the Buckeyes continue on in the Winners’ bracket. Michigan will play Penn State this afternoon and right after that, the winner will play Illinois. Both of those games are elimination games.

It’s hard to believe that #1 seed Michigan is fighting for their lives already.

My photos of the Illinois-Minnesota game are here.

Go Illini!!

Followup: I just wanted to add this… should #1 seed Michigan defeat Penn State, the Illini will remember that they DID win 2 games against them during the regular season. So do I wish for a Michigan matchup??? umm… maybe not. But it’s something to think about.

Things I see and people I meet at the Big Ten Tournament

Ray Fisher stadium, home of the University of Michigan baseball team, seems like a pretty decent facility. I (and at least one other person who I gave directions to) had a little problem finding the place partially because of all the construction going on and because I got some bad advice from a bus driver.

The construction is going on because they are renovating the Fisher stadium. Due date for completion is Winter of 2008. I like seeing money being thrown at this. It shows they are serious about the baseball (and softball) program. You can see the sign (and can actually read it) here.

There had to be at least 10-12 guys with pitching radar guns sitting behind homeplate. Like Pavlov’s dog, every time a pitcher go into his windup, uuuuppp go all of their radar guns in unison. I’m curious how many of them were legitimate baseball staff or scouts and how many were gadget freaks…

…not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I finally get to meet Brian DeCaussin from Big Ten Hardball. He and I have been in contact all season and he even did us an interview for Baseball Zealot Radio. I don’t think there is anyone who knows Big Ten baseball inside and out better than he does. We sat and watched the Illinois game in the “neutral” section. If any of you want some good info on Big Ten baseball,
check out Big Ten Hardball.

Finally, as I was talking to Mike Rohde, this gentleman comes up to me and says “Are you the Zealot? The guy posting all the pictures?” I told him I was. He told me he was Ryan Hastings’ father, Bryan and that he really appreciated seeing them. I asked if he had seen the nice one of Ryan signing autographs for the kids between games last weekend (it’s a good one). He said he hadn’t but he’ll get his wife to get online to check it out.

Well, Mrs. Hastings, I’ll make it easy for you, here it is…

…but to stay on topic how ’bout one of Ryan after scoring a run today?

Let’s get the Gophers tomorrow!

Iowa gets ‘Roarked’ by the Orange and Blue

Here we go, Illini, Here we go!

Here we go, Illini, here we go!

It sure is nice to be in the winners’ bracket.

No incredible comeback today at the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Nope, the Illinois had things pretty much under control from the very start against the Iowa Hawkeyes as they took them 12-3.

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Lars Davis and Tanner Roark

Starter Tanner Roark pitched great. He had a shutout going through seven innings. He gave up a three-spot in the eighth but settled down and pitched a zero for the last frame.

He had some help from the rest of the team, too. Illinois had five double plays, a conference tournament record. Not only that, they were in five consecutive innings.

By the way, the Hawkeyes weren’t taking too many chances with Lars Davis. They intentionally walked him twice him in the game.

Kyle Hudson was 3 for 5 with a triple and and three other Illini had 2 hits. In addition, Mike Rohde translated his single into 2 rbis plus an rbi on a groundout.

I talked to Mike after the game and asked about his shoulder. I asked only because they brought in Mike Giller to play first in the 9th. He says it still feels ok.

Tomorrow: The boys take on Minnesota at 2:35 (central).

Took lots of photos. Take a look.

Took a few at the Ohio State-Penn State game, too. The Buckeyes had State for lunch, 10-3.

Looking ahead to the Big Ten Tournament

I’m finally coming down a bit from Sunday’s incredible comeback by the Illini over Michigan State. It’s not often you see a team come back from a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in a must-win game. But I’m sure the Illini baseball team isn’t looking back… they’re looking forward. Forward to Wednesday at 11:05 (Central) … Continue reading “Looking ahead to the Big Ten Tournament”

I’m finally coming down a bit from Sunday’s incredible comeback by the Illini over Michigan State. It’s not often you see a team come back from a 7-0 deficit to win 8-7 in a must-win game.

But I’m sure the Illini baseball team isn’t looking back… they’re looking forward. Forward to Wednesday at 11:05 (Central) when they take on Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

For the record, Iowa is 17-13 (31-21 overall) good for fourth place in the Big Ten. Head to head, Iowa had the advantage winning three of four at Iowa City.

Word has it that the players left Champaign-Urbana Monday at noon. Hopefully they will get some rest before tomorrow’s practice day. They deserve it.

Here is the Big Ten Tournament web site.

Closing out the regular season

A couple of things are worthy of note before going on to the Big Ten Tournament:

First, congrats to closer Jake Toohey who won Big Ten pitcher of the week. He recorded a save and a win in Illinois’ series against Michigan State. The win, of course, was Toohey’s 4 1/3 inning appearance on Sunday where he allowed no runs and allowed the Illini to come back and win the game.

Somewhat lost in the shuffle this weekend was the fact that Shawn Roof has broken Andy Small’s career HBP record for Illini. Roof had two over the weekend giving him 45.

Finally, catcher Lars Davis finished out the regular season hitting .415, second in the Big Ten. The thing is, his batting average only tells part of the story. Without him, the team wouldn’t have made the Tournament. Nicely done, Crash.

Tomorrow is a travel day for me. I’ll be getting into Ann Arbor around 11:30pm.

Go Illini!!

An Illini Comeback: Big Ten Baseball doesn’t get any better than this

First of all, let me get this out of the way:

Yessss! All Right!! WOW! Way to go, Illini! Woo hoo! I-L-L, I-N-I!!

Whew.

Sunday’s scoreboard shows the incredible comeback by the Illini

Yes, the Illini won today. In a must-win game in order to go on to the Big Ten tournament, the University of Illinois baseball team did not give up despite being down by seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. They kept pecking away at the lead until finally the game was theirs. Kudos to all of the team members for a job well done against a very tough Michigan State team.

With the Illini down 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth, it was Nick Stockwell who gave us some hope. With two out, two runners on and a two strike count, Stockwell cranked a ball over the left field fence that hit the scoreboard. That made it 7-3 MSU.

Lars Davis was key to the comeback with 2 homeruns and 3 rbis

A homerun by Lars Davis and a rbi single by Shawn Roof scoring Mike Rohde in the bottom of the sixth made it 7-5. In the seventh, a base hit by Kyle Hudson, a triple by Brandon Wikoff and yes, another home run by Lars Davis made it 8-7 which end up the final score.

Reliever Jake Toohey allowed no runs in 4 1/3 IP

But, wait a minute, what were the Spartans doing all this time? Well, I’m not going any further in this article without talking about Jake Toohey, Illinois’ stopper in the bullpen, and his role in this game. Sunday, Toohey redefined the definition of a closer as he came in with two outs in the fifth… and closed the game out for the Illini. For the record, he scattered 5 hits and 3 walks over 4 1/3 innings and allowed NO runs for the win. Ice that arm, Jake. We’re going to need it in the tournament.

Yes, the tournament. That sounds so sweet.

The Big Ten tournament starts in three days. The boys have a practice day in Ann Arbor on Tuesday.

And I already have my train ticket reserved.

Go Illini!!

By the way, here are the photos I took at Sunday’s game.

Illinois Down to the Wire

Game Two’s scoreboard says it all

It wasn’t a good day for Illinois baseball. They lost both games to the Michigan State Spartans and it wasn’t really close. They were outscored 23-7 for the two games. I hope Coach Hartleb has some good words of wisdom for boys in Orange and Blue.

They need to win tomorrow to get a berth in the Big Ten tournament. But I’m feeling good about it. So good that I made my train reservation for Ann Arbor (it looks like the Big Ten tournament will be hosted by Michigan). So go get ’em, guys!

Brandon Wikoff welcomes Lars Davis at home plate after Davis’ homer in the first game…

…then Mike Rohde follows up with one of his own.

The one big highlight for our side were back-to-back homers by Lars Davis and Mike Rohde in the sixth inning of the first game which accounted for the only runs the Illini scored in that game.

Coach Hartleb debates the ump’s call of safe on Eric Roof’s inside-the-park homer

Eric Roof (yes, Shawn’s brother) who was 0 for 4 in the Illini’s win Friday got his hitting shoes on today. In the first game, he hit a deep line drive to center all the way to the wall. Centerfielder Kyle Hudson went for it and we all heard a THUD! as he hit the wall. Roof circled the bases as Ryan Snowden who was playing left picked up the ball and threw it in. The relay throw made it to the plate in time for a play. Whether or not, you thought Eric Roof was out depended on where your loyalties lie but important
thing was the man in blue said he was safe. Inside the park home run for Roof, his first homer of the season. You can be sure there were a lot a family members cheering for him then.

Don’t worry, folks. Hud’s ok now.

Meanwhile, Kyle Hudson was lying on ground in center. He eventually got up and stayed in the game. I talked to him between games and he said he just got knocked around a bit but nowhere special and felt fine.

Speaking of getting knocked around, Mike Rohde experienced pain in his shoulder when reaching up for a grounder in game two and had to be taken to the trainer’s room. He eventually came out and I talked to him briefly. He said he should be good for Sunday’s game. Nick Stockwell filled in at first for the remainder of the game and actually made some pretty decent plays.

Last I checked, the starters have not been announced.

I took some photos. Take a look.

Go Illini!!

Illini win the first against MSU: one more win to go for tourney berth

Tonight’s game against the Spartans of Michigan State had it all. You name it… an injury, questionable umpiring, sibling rivalry, a comeback by the Illini. What a game!

Coach Hartleb passed by where I was twenty minutes before the game. I asked him, “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready but that doesn’t matter.”

Well, it looked like the players were too.

Eric Roof

The Roof family were all decked out in these cool T-shirts

Eric Roof got the start tonight at third base for MSU. He is the younger brother of Shawn Roof. Of the 812 in attendance tonight, half must have been related to the Roofs. A lot of them were wearing this neat T-shirt made this occasion. I introduced myself to one of the Roof clan and asked permission to take a photo of the shirt. I asked who he was rooting for. Both of them.

Good answer.

Tanner Roark got the start tonight. Roark has had really good luck opening up against Big Ten weekends but when he allowed 6 hits and 4 runs in two innings, I started to wonder whether Hartleb would pull him. Well, there’s a reason Hartleb is the manager and I’m just a two-bit blogger. Roark settled down and didn’t allow a run after that.

Mike Rohde’s homerun made it a whole new ballgame

Meanwhile, the offense had some trouble getting it going until they got their first hit in the 3rd inning. And what a hit it was! With two on, Mike Rohde toasted a ball over the centerfield wall and with one swing got the team within one run. Suddenly, it was a new ballgame.

The Illini scored an unearned run in the fifth and another one in the sixth on a Kyle Hudson triple putting the them ahead.

MSU pitcher Chris Cullen is in pain after taking a line drive off the foot

In the eighth, up by a run with Joe Bonadonna on third, Hudson hit a go-backer that hit MSU pitcher Chris Cullen on the foot. Hudson was safe and Bonadonna scored the insurance run. More importantly, the ball to Cullen’s foot was enough to take him out. Someone next to me said they heard the ball hit the foot and it was rather loud. Cullen was on the ground for several minutes before being helped to the training room. Here’s hoping it’s not serious.

That insurance run was pretty valuable. Turns out the Illini needed to cash it in. Jake Toohey, who struck out the batter to get out of a jam in the top of the eighth, gave up a double and a hit bringing MSU within one run. He then forced a groundout for the save.

Illini win 6-5!!

After the game, Shawn Roof ran past me and I extended my forefinger and yelled “One more!” in reference to the one win they need to clinch a berth in the Big Ten tournament. As expected, Roof wasn’t going to have any of that. “Uh-uh.” He put up three fingers. “Three more.”

As always, more of my photos are at The Baseball Zealot Photo Gallery.

Illinois playing MSU for Big Ten Tourney rights

The victory celebration after an Indiana game: I’m hoping to see four more of these

Forget what I said before. This weekend is the big one. The Spartans are coming into town and the these games really matter.

The Illini need to win at least two out of four against Michigan State in order for them to advance to the Big Ten Tournament. If they only win one, Penn State would need to sweep Ohio State. Michigan State has their own agenda, too. They’re only a game and half back so they’re playing for their lives.

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Eric Roof

And if there aren’t enough storylines, Illini shortstop Shawn Roof will be playing against his brother Eric, who is a catcher/thirdbaseman for the Spartans. Eric is a sophomore and isn’t seeing a lot of playing time… yet.

Shawn Roof is breaking records left and right and it’s hard to keep ’em straight. Last weekend, he broke the single season steals record as well as the single season HBP record. Right now, he is tied for the career HBP record with 43. C’mon, Shawn! Stick that elbow in there. ;-)

Catcher Lars Davis goes into this weekend’s series hitting .419. He’s striving to be the first Illini starter to hit .400 since Craig Marquie and Josh Klimek did so in 1996. Davis’ accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed. He’s been named a semi-finalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award.

By the way, I did a fair job breaking the Big Ten standings down but it doesn’t compare to what Brian did over at Big Ten Hardball. He’s got it all worked out so you don’t have to.

So if you want to see some good college baseball, make way to Illinois Field this weekend. Here are the times:

May 18 // 6:05 pm
May 19 // 1:05 pm (DH)
May 20 // 1:05 pm

See you at Illinois Field and Go Illini!!

Bring the brooms out… the Illini sweep the Hoosiers!

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.

5-13-07 133 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. ;-)

Illini win opener vs Indiana despite fielding miscues

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.