Lewis University Baseball Signs Five Illinois Players for 2014

Lewis University head baseball coach Tim McDonough announced the signing of five Illinois baseball players for the 2014 season.

First baseman Brandon Collins is a transfer from South Suburban and Moraine Valley Community College.  Collins hit .400 at Moraine Valley and went to Lincoln Way North H.S.

Left handed pitcher Sam Couch is from Joliet Catholic was named to the WJOL All-Tournament team as a junior.  Sam lives in Bolingbrook Illinois.

Brad Elmore is a 6'3" 240 lb pitcher from Bolingbrook H.S..  Brad was an All-Area selection and lives in Bolingbrook Illinois.

James Holub is also a pitcher and went 7-1 while striking out 62 in 42 innings at Wauconda H.S. last season.  James lives in Wauconda Illinois.

Indiana University Baseball Signs Three from Illinois

The Indiana Hoosier baseball program announced the signing of three players from Illinois to National Letters of Intent.

Brent Gibbs is a catcher from Alton High School who has "power and an exceptional arm" according to Hoosier head baseball coach Tracy Smith.  Gibbs lives in Godfrey Illinois.

Austin Cangelosi is an infielder from Carl Sandburg H.S. and is the son of former Major League John Cangelosi.  Austin hit .565 with his summer team and lives in Orland Park Illinois.

Left handed pitcher Austin Foote won six games and struck out 67 in 11 appearances last season at Lake Zurich H.S.  Foote lives in Lake Zurich Illinois.

Henderson Signs Extension with SIU Carbondale Baseball

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale head baseball coach Ken Henderson signed a contract extension to continue as the head baseball coach through the 2014 season.

In his third season at Southern Illinois the Saluki head coach went 31-28 in 2012. Henderson is entering his 23rd season at Southern Illinois Carbondale as he joined the Saluki staff in 1990.

Lincoln Memorial Baseball Signs Three from Illinois

Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters head baseball coach Jeff Sziksai announced the signing of three baseball players from Illinois.

Left handed pitcher Cody Netzel is a transfer from Kaskaskia Community College.  "Cody brings a lot of positive things to our program" according to Sziksai.  Netzel lives in Kankakee Illinois.

Muta Crusoe is an infielder from Proviso West High School in Illinois.  Crusoe hit .380 with three homers, four triples and ten doubles last season at Proviso West. Muta lives in Bellwood Illinois.

Infielder Ryan Burlison is a transfer from Oakton Community College.  Ryan hit .316 with 13 doubles last year at Oakton.  Burlison lives in Romeoville Illinois.

Another New College Summer Baseball League in Illinois - The Lake Michigan Baseball League

Here we go again...another new collegiate summer league has popped up in Illinois, the Lake Michigan League.

The Lake Michigan Baseball League states they will focus on the development of players that attend junior colleges, NAIA and division III programs.  The league will play 24 games in just over one month and have rosters of only 22 players.  There are also league fees for each player of $595.

Other leagues in the Northern Illinois area are the Metro Collegiate Summer Baseball League of Illinois, The Midwest Collegiate League, and  The Chicago Suburban Baseball League.

Mark Pall from Lake Park Signs With Valpo Baseball

Valparaiso head baseball coach Tracy Woodson announced the signing of Mark Pall from Bloomingdale Illinois to a National Letter of Intent.

Mark Pall is a 6'3" 160 pound right handed pitcher who was an academic all-conference player his sophomore and junior seasons.  Mark's father pitched in the majors for many years.

Louisiana Monroe Baseball Signs Two from Illinois

The University of Louisiana Monroe baseball program announced the signing of two  baseball players from Illinois to National Letters of Intent.

Left handed pitcher Weston Mason from John A. Logan College went 2-0 with a 1.50 in 15 2/3rds innings last season.  Mason lives in Mt. Vernon Illinois.

Keelin Rasch is a third baseman from John A. Logan College and hit .313 with 3 homers and 24 rbi's last year.  Keelin lives in Harrisburg Illinois.

Jerimiah Figueroa Signs National Letter of Intent with Arkansas Pine-Bluff Baseball

University of Arkansas Pine Bluff head baseball coach Carlos James announced the signing of Jerimiah Figueroa to a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for the Golden Lions.

Figueroa is an outfielder/pitcher from Roberto Clemente Community Academy in Chicago Illinois.

McKendree Baseball Signs Four for 2014

McKendree Bearcats head baseball coach Jim Boehne announced the signing of four student athletes for the 2014 season.

Tyson Boehne, Jim's youngest son, is a utility player who hit .382 with 3 homers and went 3-3 on the mound last year.  Tyson attended Carlyle HS and lives in Carlyle Illinois.

Bradley Groleau is an outfielder from St. Bede Academy.  Bradley hit .485 with 8 triples, 2 homers, and 42 rbi's last season.  Groleau lives in Peru Illinois.

Kyle Jackson is a catcher from Carlyle HS who hit .358 with 2 homers and 16 rbi's last year.  Kyle lives in Hoffman, Illinois.

Left handed pitcher Dylan Salsman was 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA at Francis Howell HS.  Dylan is from St. Louis Mo.

High School Assistant Baseball Coaching Positions in Illinois

Community district 300 in Carpentersville Illinois is looking for an assistant baseball coach.  Person must have the ability to organize and motivate his own team at the underclass levels.  More information is available on the district 300 website.

Stillman Valley is looking for an assistant baseball coach reporting directly to the head baseball coach.  Candidates should have knowledge of IHSA rules and requires a valid teaching certificate or ASEP certification.  For more info visit the Meridian CUSD #223 website.

Bobby Thorson Signs With Campbell University Baseball

Campbell University baseball announced the signing of right handed pitcher/infielder Bobby Thorson to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Camels.

Thorson is a 6'0 195 two way player that "has a chance to be a legitimate two-way player" according to Campbell head coach Greg Goff.

Thorson will be a transfer from Elgin Community College, attended Kaneland HS and lives in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Missouri State Baseball Signs Alex Jefferson From Normal West HS

Missouri State head baseball  coach Keith Guttin announced the signing of Alex Jefferson to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Bears baseball program.

Alex Jefferson is a left handed pitcher/outfielder from Normal West HS who went 9-1 with a 1.23 ERA last year at Normal West.  Jefferson also hit .418 with 14 doubles and 17 stolen bases last season.  Alex is the brother of Andrew Jefferson who played for the bears from 1999-2002.  Alex lives in Normal Illinois.

Western Illinois Baseball Signs Four

The Western Illinois University Leathernecks baseball program announced the signing of four to National Letters of Intent.

Catcher/Infielder Adam McGinnins from Normal West.  Adam hit .412 with 25 rbi's and struck out only three times last year.  Adam lives in Normal Illinois.

Infielder Chris Tschida from Joliet Catholic.  Chris hit .495 with 33 rbi's in his junior season at Joliet Catholic.  Chris lives in Joliet Illinois.

LHP Preston Church from Ogden Iowa.  Church went 5-0 with a 0.83 era last season.

RHP Tyler Stolz from Evansville Indiana.  Tyler was 7-1 as a junior.

Dan Durkin Signs with Michigan State Baseball

Michigan State University head baseball coach Jake Boss announced the signing of infielder Dan Durkin to a National Letter of Intent for the 2014 season.

Durkin is a "tough, hard-nosed player, and a good athlete who can do a lot of things" according to Boss.  Dan is from Victor J. Andrew High School and lives in Tinley Park Illinois.

Creighton Baseball Signs Three from Illinois

Creighton University baseball announced the signing of three baseball players from Illinois to National Letters of Intent on November 15th.

Right handed pitcher David Gerber from Neuqua Valley HS, David lives in Naperville, Illinois.

Nick Lopez, an infielder from Naperville Central HS, Nick also lives in Naperville, Illinois.

Right handed pitcher Kevin Smith from St. Laurence HS in Burbank Illinois.

Ryan Aper and Jake Ingold Sign With Middle Tennessee State Baseball

Middle Tennessee State University baseball head coach Jim McGuire announced the signing of two Lincoln Land Community College baseball players to National Letters of Intent.  

Outfielder Ryan Aper from Lincoln Illinois will join the Blue Raiders after being selected as a second team NJCAA All-American as a freshman at Lincoln Land.

First team NJCAA All-American catcher/3b Jake Ingold will join his Lincoln Land teammate at Middle Tennessee State after hitting .416 with 17 homers last year.  Jake is from Chatham, Illinois.

Christian Bokich Signs Letter of Intent With Miami Ohio Baseball

Miami Ohio announced the signing of Christian Bokich from Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale Illinois to a National Letter of Intent on the first day of the signing period.

Bokich is a right handed pitcher and ranked as the 11th best pitcher in Illinois by Perfect Game.  Miami Ohio head baseball coach Dan Simonds states that Christian "has a power arm and two quality pitches."

Illinois Baseball Announces 2013 Letter of Intent Signees

The University of Illinois head baseball coach Dan Hartleb announce the signing of six student-athletes for the 2013 signing class on the first day of the early signing period.

Below are the six who were signed on the first day:

Anthony Drago, 1B/OF from Lake Zurich HS

Alex Greer, OF from Iowa Western Community College

Matthew James, RHP/SS from Normal West HS

Ryne Roper, RHP/SS from Harrisburg HS

Dan Rowbottom, OF from St. Ignatius HS in Ohio

Cody Sedlock, RHP from Alleman HS

Illinois Division I Baseball RPI Rankings for 2012

Warren-Nolan publishes the RPI rankings each season for division I college baseball along with other division I sports.  Below are the final rankings for division I baseball teams in Illinois.  So, who is the strongest NCAA Division I baseball team?

#58 Illinois State University - Record of 31-19, strength of schedule was 88

#86 University of Illinois - Record of 28-25, strength of schedule was 66

#114 Southern Illinois Carbondale - Record of 31-28, strength of schedule was 117

#120 Bradley University - Record of 27-27, strength of schedule was 103

#158 Southern Illinois Edwardsville - Record of 25-28, strength of schedule was 157

#175 Eastern Illinois - Record of 27-29, strength of schedule was 180

#231 University of Illinois Chicago - Record of 22-34, strength of schedule was 203

#240 Northwestern University - Record of 18-34, strength of schedule was 187

#262 Northern Illinois University - Record of 15-40, strength of schedule was 190

#267 Western Illinois University - Record of 16-35, strength of schedule was 240

#294 Chicago State University - Record of 12-40, strength of schedule was 291

Quincy Gems Baseball Reports 23K Loss for 2012

The Quincy Gems summer collegiate baseball team in the Prospect League reported a loss of over $23,000 for the past summer.  General manager Rob Ebbing stated gate receipts were $16,000 below budget projections and beer, picnic, and catering revenues were also down.  Ebbing claims the weather played a significant role in the short falls.

Quincy Civic Center authority chairman Hubert Staff has had concerns in the past and still has concern but states "i'm not suggesting at this time that we will discontinue", and "i'm sure we will be making a recommendation in the near future."

The Gems have been around since 1996 as a collegiate summer team and participated in the Central Illinois Collegiate League from 1996-2008.  In 2008 the Prospect League absorbed the Central Illinois Collegiate League and the Gems have participated in the Prospect League since.

Other summer Illinois collegiate teams have had financial issues in 2012 include the two teams owned by Jamie Toole, the Will County CrackerJacks and the Illinois Lincolns.  The two teams were kicked out of the Midwest Collegiate League for failure to pay anybody, including umpires.