Former Major Leaguer and Illini pitcher Jason Anderson joins the fighting Illini coaching staff as a volunteer coach. Jason will team up with Drew Dickinson who was named Pitching Coach on August 3rd as Illinois will carry two pitching coaches.
Anderson retired from professional baseball on July 19th. Anderson also ranks third in wins at Illinois with 29 and holds the single season record for victories with 14.
Drew Dickinson was named Pitching Coach after a seven year professional career and spending two years as a volunteer assistant coach at Illinois. Drew was 30-7 in his career at Illinois.
Chris Serritella, Southern Illinois University, captures the Prospect League Player of the Year award by leading the league in home runs (14) and rbi's (60) and coming in fourth in batting average at .361.
Chris also helped lead the Quincy Gems to their second league championship in the three year history of the Prospect League with a 5-0 victory over the West Virginia Miners.
Chris will be a senior at Southern Illinois University and is from Glenview Illinois.
More drama for the Lake County Fielders baseball team from Zion Illinois this past week.
Since having a game cancelled against Calgary for using sub par baseballs that are not approved by the league the Fielders were at it again after they refused to travel to a four game series because the cost of travel was too much.
The North American League announced on Thursday that the Lake County Fielders had been thrown out of the league.
The City of Zion wants its $185,000 in rent and most of the players and coaches quit over financial issues - not to mention the on air exit from the Fielders broadcaster.
The rest of the season is up for grabs from the Fielders but you can bet there are tickets still available.
Western Illinois University announced that registration is open for their two day fall baseball camp on October 8th and 9th 2011. The camp is open to ages 15-20.
The fall camp offers instruction in all aspects of the game from Leatherneck coaches and players. Interested players can choose a one day ($85) or two day session ($155).
For more information please visit the Western Illinois Baseball website below.
2011 Western Illinois Baseball Camp
The Lincoln-Way North baseball team captured it's first summer state baseball championship at the Phil Lawler Summer Classic Tournament just three years after playing its first varsity game with an 8-5 win over Prairie Ridge.
Reed Hero became the hero as he delivered a single in the top of the seventh to give the Phoenix (21-4) a 6-5 lead. The Phoenix added a couple of insurance runs on a two out single up the middle from Josh Handzik. Reed Hero was named the MVP of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic.
The game between the Calgary Vipers and the Lake County Fielders was suspended Friday in Zion Illinois when the Vipers claimed the Lake County Fielders were playing with sub par baseballs.
Once again Fielders owner Richard Ehrenreich is left trying to explain why the Fielders were using recreational baseballs purchased at a local sporting goods store rather than purchasing its usual order for Rawlings professional model.
Ehrenreich said he is expected to announce Tuesday whether the Fielders will complete the rest of the season. Ehrenreich, who also owned the now defunct Schaumburg Flyers, was ordered by a the court to pay over $500,000 in past due rent to the village. Ehrenreich's Grand Slam Sports and Entertainment, the Fielders parent company, owes $185,000 in back rent to the city of Zion dating back to the 2010 season.
Trenton Moses from Southeast Missouri State University baseball captured the Prospect League batting title going 3-4 with a homer, a double and 4 rbi's moving his batting average to .388 on the season. Moses also holds the Prospect League record of reaching base in 45 consecutive games this season.
The Dekalb County liners play their home games at Founders Field in Sycamore Illinois.
Quincy Gems and Southern Illinois Saluki Chris Serritella went 4-4 with three home runs and double with 5 rbi's and it wasn't enough for the Gems as Terre Haute defeated Qunicy 10-8 last night in Prospect League Action. Serritella now leads the Prospect League with 10 home runs on the season.
Four other homers were hit last night - one each by Andrew Hecht (Quincy), S. Bruno (Terre Haute), N. Johnson (Terre Haute) and J. Loeffler (Terre Haute).
Lake County Fielders Baseball announcer Qumar Zaman quit while wrapping up his game broadcast last Friday stating the Fielders had not paid him the money owed to him since the beginning of the season.
Field Manager Tim Johnson also quit on July 9th claiming he had not been paid. In a show of support for Johnson eleven players refused to take the field and then were released by the Fielders. Assistant coach Pete LaCock resigned after the game and was fined $2,500 and suspended from the league.
Listen to Zaman quit on the air below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-lcQNKua1-Y
Mike Giovenco made his Kane County Cougar baseball debut on Friday night in Lansing Illinois allowing one hit, a walk and striking out three in two innings.
Giovenco was drafted out of North Park University in the 14th round by the Royals in 2010. Before coming to Kane County, Giovenco went 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings at Idaho Falls.
Mike now stays with his family in Roselle Illinois.
Baseball players from Illinois who made the 2011 Northwoods League All-Star game which will be played on July 18th in Wisconsin Rapids.
The Northwoods League is a summer collegiate baseball league comprised of top college players that must have college eligibility remaining. The league is considered one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the nation.
Listed are the mid season all-stars from Illinois:
Infielder Jason Leblebijian, Wilmar Stingers, Bradley Universiy, Arlington Heights Illinois
Third baseman Troy, Battle Creek Bombers, Northern Illinois University, Chicago Illinois.
Outfielder Dan Dispensa, Battle Creek Bombers, Western Illinois University, Chicago Illinois.
Outfielder Ryan Shober, Eau Claire Express, UIC, Inverness Illinois
Outfielder Davis Hendrickson, Waterloo Bucks, University of Illinois, Macomb Illinois.
Pitcher Matt Milroy, Madison Mallards, University of Illinois, Batavia Illinois.
Brian Michalak, the top assistant at the University of St. Francis the past four seasons, has been named the Head Baseball Coach and will suceed Gordie Gillespie who retired at the end of last season.
Michalak played for Gillespie after graduating from Lockport in 1979 and was a four-year utility infielder at St. Francis. Michalak now resides in New Lenox Illinois.
The 2011 Frontier League All-Stars have been announced and below are the players from the Illinois Independent baseball teams. The Frontier League All-Star Game will take place on July 13th in Avon Ohio at All Pro Freight Stadium.
West Division
Inf - Steve Alexander - Normal CornBelters
Inf - Will Bock - Southern Illinois Miners
Backup Infielders include Logan Parker, Gateway Grizzlies and Tyler Keebler, Normal CornBelters
OF - Alvaro Ramirez, Normal CornBelters
Backup outfielder Asif Shah, Normal CornBelters
C - Sean Coughlin, Southern Illinois Miners
DH - Charlie Lisk, Gateway Grizzlies
P - Mark Brackman, Chris Enourato - Gateway Grizzzlies
P - David Harden, Ryan Zink - Southern Illinois Miners
P - Ryan Sheldon - Normal CornBelters
East Divison
Inf - Erik Lis - Joliet Slammers
Inf - Mike Torres - Windy City ThunderBolts
Inf - Jake Eigsti - Rockfork RiverHawks
Backup infielders Chris Wade, Windy City and Luis Parache, Rockford
OF - Josh Flores, Joliet Slammers
Backup outfielder Bobby Leeper, Joliet
C - Zack Aakhus, Windy City
DH - Devin Shepard, Windy City
P - Todd Privet, Windy City
P - Ryan Quigley, Joliet
P - Brett Durand, Rockford
Lyons Township High School baseball finishes the season as the #7 ranked team in the Midwest Regional Rankings by the USA Today. Lyons Township, IHSA Class 4A State Champions (37-4), is the only team from Illinois in the final rankings.
1. Broken Arrow OK 36-2
2. Owasso OK 37-2
3. Maize KS 25-0
4. Lakota East OH 24-7
5. Francis Howell MO 32-3
6. Carrol IN 32-2
7. Lyons Township 37-4
8. Rockford MI 32-6
9. Burnsville MN 21-3
10. St. Louis University 24-1
The Quincy Gems baseball team captured a home playoff spot by winning the first half of the Western Division in the Prospect League. The Gems will host a first round playoff game in Quincy Illinois on August 8th against the second half winner of the Western Division.
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| Tyler Dray |
Tyler Dray from Southern Illinois Carbondale and Jeff Zimmerman from Northern Illinois University have been named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Baseball Team selected by Collegiate Baseball.
LHP Dray recorded 8 saves with a 3.41 ERA, 24 K's in 29 innings pitched this season for the Salukis. Tyler lives in Rockford Illinois and attended Rockford Boylan Catholic high school.
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| Jeff Zimmerman |
1B Zimmerman, who was also named the Freshman Player of the Year in the Mid-American Conference, hit .326 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 47 RBI's. Jeff is from Tinley Park Illinois and attended Victor J. Andrew high
school.
Senior Chris Pack from the University of Illinois has signed a free-agent contract with the Florida Marlins. Chris is the third fighting Illini player to sign a professional contract this summer. Pack joins shortstop Chris Parr (signed by the Diamondbacks) and pitcher Corey Kimes (signed by the Twins).
Chris was contacted by the Marlins on his way to a tryout with the Phillies by Marlins area scout Kevin Ibach who asked if Chris was interested in a closer position in the Gulf Coast League. Pack begins his first season in the Marlins rookie-league affiliate in the Gulf Coast League this summer.
The 2011 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Team:
Class 4A
C Austin Bosart - O'Fallon
C Blake Hickman - Simeon
C Jack Picchotti - Oak Park River-Forest
C Dan Potempa - Providence
C Rob Rabakozi - Reavis
P Connor Cuff - Lyons Township
P Luke Harrison - Glenbrook South
P Mathew James - Normal West
P Dan Ludwig - Naperville Central
P Zach Remijas - Lyons Township
IF Kevin Defillipis - Providence
IF Brian Evak - Plainfield North
IF Jake Harper - Lincoln-Way North
IF Jake Landwher - Prospect
IF Spencer Mahoney - Lyons Township
IF Tony Rallo - St. Charles East
IF Sam Travis - Providence
OF Michael Vilardo - Cary Grove
OF Jared Pyatt - Pekin
OF Zack Reks - Sandburg
OF Chris Sujka - Mt. Carmel
OF Charlie Tilson - New Trier
OF Kyle Wood - St. Laurence
Below are players from Division III Illinois baseball teams that were voted onto the D3baseball.com 2011 All-American team.
Second Team:
DH - Cam Stephens, Concordia University Illinois, East Leyden High School
Third Team:
OF - Josh Davidson, Aurora University, Cypress CA
IF - Mike Foley, Aurora University, Joliet Catholic Academy
P - Jason Pankau, Illinois Wesleyan, York High School
Honorable Mention:
1B - Kevin Callahan, Illinois Wesleyan, Brother Rice High School
The Bradley Braves baseball team handed out it's postseason awards recently and sophomore outfielder Mike Tauchman earned the A.J. Robertson Award as most valuable player.
Five other team awards were handed out and the award list is continued below.
Rod Thompson Hitting Award - Mike Tauchman, Palatine Illinois
Mike Dunne as the top team pitcher - Joe Bircher, Omaha Neb.
Kirby Puckett Gold Glove - Rob Elliot, Naperville Illinois
Troy Guidotti Hustle Award - Jason Leblebijian, Arlington Heights Illinois
Tim Trunk Most Improved - Eric Paulson, Barrington Illinois and John Nasshan, Niles Illinois
Phil Kaiser Memorial Award - Patrick Flannagan, Salem Illinois
