Baseball in Illinois News
The Rockford Foresters announced today that Boylan High School graduate Conner Kretz, who currently plays for St. Ambrose University, will be playing for the team in it’s Inaugural Season in the infield.
Kretz graduated from Boylan High School in 2009. While at Boylan, Kretz was a powerhouse player batting .393 with 35 hits, 19 RBIs and 3 home runs.
With the signing of Kretz, the Foresters now have six of eight players signed that are from the Rockford area including Ryan Hickey, Ryan Jacobson, Austin Licon, Matt Carroll, and Brett Russell.
IHSA Results
Chicago Christian 4
Bloom 0
Trent Overzet 6 IP 8K's, Mitch Warren 2-3
St. Edwards 10
IMSA 0
WP - Godfrey
Simeon 20
Hope 0
Corey Ray 3-3 Grand Slam and a 2 Run Homer
Routt 7
Greenfield 3
Nick Duke 3-3 double
Carrier Mills 3
Johnson City 1
Wyatt Kirkland WP, 10K's
Baseball in Illinois News
The Chicago White Sox optioned right-handed pitchers Freddy Dolsi, Lucas Harrell, Jhonny Nunez, Brian Omogrosso and Clevelan Santeliz to Triple-A Charlotte. Right-handed pitcher Santo Luis was optioned to Double-A Birmingham and catcher Cole Armstrong was reassigned to Minor League camp.
Hynick, who was acquired from Colorado, was outrighted to Charlotte, meaning he was taken off the 40-man roster, reducing its occupancy to 39.
Baseball in Illinois News
The Chicago Cubs have started to reassign players including top draft picks Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters. Jackson, an outfielder, was the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick last June, while Vitters was the top pick in 2007.
Mitch Atkins was optioned to Triple-A Iowa and David Patton, whom the Cubs acquired in December 2008 in the Rule 5 Draft, was optioned to Double-A Tennessee. Both are right-handed pitchers.
Jackson, Vitters, catchers Steve Clevenger and Blake Lalli, infielder Matt Camp, and pitchers Jeff Kennard and Vince Perkins all were assigned to the Minor League camp.
Baseball in Illinois News
Millikin lead the game 5-3 heading into the bottom of ninth inning, but the Eagles rallied for three unearned runs to pull out the victory. Robert Morris tied the game on a two run single with two out and then scored the game winning run on a bases loaded walk.
Peter Bonner went 2-4, with a homerun, stolen base and three runs scored to lead the Big Blue attack. Matt Beiler and Blaise Sylvester each had two hits.
Baseball in Illinois News
After losing a double-header to Harris-Stowe State University on Friday 4-2 and 7-4, Saturday’s double-header started on a positive note as they Trolls grabbed a 6-1 win. The team scored first in the 4th inning and Harris Stowe matched the run in the bottom of the inning. Trinity connected four hits in a row in the 5th inning to bring in four runs. One of those hits was a double by Matt Kamp and the other was a two-run single by Steve Pellack. The team made it a 6-1 final when a double by Pellack followed by a single by Joe Musolino created a final run in the 7th inning.
Baseball in Illinois News
Gilberto Mejia has been a key piece to the ThunderBolts roster since 2007. Gilberto, a resident of the Dominican Republic, was the 2009 league leader in stolen bases and triples, with 47 and 10 respectively. The switch-hitter advanced as high as AA with the Detroit Tigers organization in 2005.
J.T. Restko, the product of local Marist High School, will once again be covering the first base duties for the ThunderBolts for a second straight year. Restko was a 10th round selection by the Marlins in 2003. His best season was in 2005, where he had a .313 average with 15 home runs and 70 runs batted in for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The 2009 Frontier League All-Star had a .334 batting average, which was 4th in the league. The 6’5” righty had big power numbers for the ThunderBolts last season with 18 home runs and 76 runs batted in. J.T. should be a reliable force in the middle of the lineup.
The third member of the trio is outfielder Mike Sullivan. Sullivan was selected in the 2006 draft by the Detroit Tigers. He spent two years in their organization before finding his way to the Frontier League. After starting the 2008 season with the Evansville Otters, the ThunderBolts acquired the lefty batter at the 2008 All-Star break as a free agent. He batted .363 and helped lead Windy City to a Championship in 2008. Sullivan’s 2009 season was shortened due to a shoulder injury. He only played in 14 games, but did bat .360 with 16 runs batted in. Sullivan looks to have a healthy and productive 2010 season in Crestwood.
The Rockford RiverHawks will hold an open tryout for pitchers and catchers May 2nd and May 3rd 2010. Registration is at 8:00 a.m. on May 2nd. For more information contact the RiverHawks at 815-885-2255.
Baseball in Illinois News
Joliet Township High School will play IHSA 3A Champ Joliet Catholic High School at Silver Cross Field (Home of the Joliet JackHammers) on March 25th 2010. Game time is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
Over the past four years, Joliet Township and Joliet Catholic Academy have played six times with each team winning three games respectively. This season will mark the final year of combining Joliet West and Joliet Central, a season they hope will be a memorable one.
Recap and scores for Illinois D1 baseball teams from Friday..
University of Illinois 11
#12 Coastal Carolina 10
Matt Dittman 4-5 2 dubs, Casey McMurry 2-3 dinger 5 rbi's. Mike Sterk picks up the win with 2 innings of scoreless relief.
Game 1
Northwestern 20
UNLV 6
Chad Noble 3-5 2 rbi's, Chris Kontos grand slam, Francis Brook 7.1 IP, win.
Game 2
UNLV 4
Northwestern 3
Jack Harvey 3-4
East Tennessee State 24
Southern Illinois Edwardsville 4
Baylor 9
UIC 7
Chris Rutta 3-5 3 rbi's
UC Santa Barbara 8
Northern Illinois University 1
Jordan Hood 1-4 with a dinger
Gonzaga 8
Bradley 6
Martin 2-4 homer 3 rbi's
Illinois State 5
James Madison 0
Kevin Tokarski 3-3, Ryan Court 2-3 2 rbi's, Corey Maines 6 IP win, game called after six.
UC Davis 5
Southern Illinois Carbondale 3
Murphy 2-3, Pinnon 2-4 homer
The Quincy Gems signed local product RHP Travis Ruppel from Qunicy University for the 2010 summer season. Travis, who is currently a Junior at Qunicy University, played two seasons for John Wood Community College and is from Ashland Illinois.
Baseball in Illinois News
Landon Camp, second baseman Will Block and shortstop Brad Netzel will return to the Southern Illinois Miners for the 2010 season.
Camp spent the first half of the 2009 season as a rookie with Sioux City of the American Association. He signed with the Miners immediately after the all-star break and soon took over the starting job at third base. He is eager to return to Southern Illinois.
Block and Netzel also made their professional debuts in 2009.
Block signed with the Miners during the all-star break after setting numerous offensive records in his four years at Florida Atlantic University. He was quickly thrown into the fire as the starting second baseman when both starting middle infielders, Tony Roth and Pedro Lopez, went down with injuries.
Netzel signed in mid-August and took over at as the starting shortstop in nine of the final 14 games and pinch hit in two more of those games.
Baseball in Illinois News
On May 7, the Caravan will play St. Ignatius at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood in ‘‘Stevie’s Game.’’ Tickets are $5, with all proceeds going to a scholarship fund to be established in Bajenski’s name.
Steven Bajenski died last August due to complications from surgery he had the month before to correct a heart ailment.
Meanwhile, the work of preparing for the season goes on. Bajenski is there in spirit, as well as on the roster: He’ll be listed at the top, with his familiar No. 2, all year long.
Baseball in Illinois News
Haines completed his college career at Southeast Missouri and Freed-Hardeman Universities and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998. During his 9 year tenure in pro ball, he pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, spending a portion of 7 years in Triple-A
Baseball in Illinois News
Augustana Baseball reaches #24 in the latest Division III baseball poll after going 7-0 on their spring trip. Big wins include a 3-2 victory over Farmingdale, a 6-5 win over Beloit and a 12-9 win over #16 Rose-Hulman.
The Normal CornBelters acquired Phil Laurent from the Washington Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League. Laurent who is a native of Springfield Illinois was traded for future considerations.
Laurent attended Liberty University in Virginia and started his professional career with the River City Rascals and signed with the San Diego Padres following that season. In 2009 with the Wild Things Laurent hit .335 with 8 home runs and 40 rbi's in 49 games.
Baseball in Illinois News
After sweeping a double header against Ohio Dominican (5-3 and 2-1), Saint Xaiver ends their 2010 Florida trip with a 7-7 tie against Aquinas College.
In game one against Ohio Dominican Ken Tezak went 2-3 with a double and a three run home run in the top of the seventh inning and Lucas Fristch earned his second save of the season.
Game two Saint Xaiver had to come from behind again as Tony O'Shea homered to tie the game and Tony Testin brought home the game winner with a sacrifice fly. Ken Hurta threw a complete game in game two giving up seven hits, one earned run and striking out seven.
In the final game of the trip St. Xaiver and Aquinas College played to a 7-7 tie for three hours only to have the game called and booked as a tie. John O'Brien went 3-5 with two rbi's and Tony Testin was 2-4 with a home run.
Division I scores from Wednesday..
Western Carolina 12
Southern Illinois Springfield 8
Matt Highland 3-5 with 3 rbi's
Florida 8
Illinois State 0
Kevin Tokarski 2-4 (Illinois States only hits of the game)
Ryan Javech from North Park University and Joe Ufheil have been named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin players of the week.
Ryan Javech hit 1.000 by going 3-3 with three runs scored in a 12-4 win against Carroll University and 4-4 in a 6-2 win over Carroll. Javech a team leading 1.091 slugging percentage.
Joe Ufeil earned both a save and a victory for Augustana on the week. Joe was credited with the victory in a 6-5 win over Beloit and the save against 22nd ranked Rose-Hulman.
Tuesday scores for Division I Illinois baseball teams...
Western Carolina 6
Southern Illinois Edwardsville 0
Adam Eggmeyer 2-4
Florida 8
Illinois State 2
Chad Hinshaw 2-4 triple, rbi, Jake Thorton 2-3
Indiana State 8
Eastern Illinois 2
Cam Strange 2-4 rbi, Gerik 2-3 rbi, Troy Barton 4 IP 0 earned runs.
St. Louis 11
Western Illinois 7
Lija 3-5 double, Summers 3-5 double, Meyers 3-5 triple, double 2 rbi's, Jordan 2-5 rbi, double
