Hartleb, Acton pick up preseason honors
By Rachel Spencer, Assistant Sports Editor
January 7, 2020
Illinois baseball earned two more preseason accolades with a little over a month before the 2020 season begins. Senior pitcher Garrett Acton was named to the Perfect Game All-American preseason second team and head coach Dan Hartleb was dubbed D1Baseball’s Big Ten Coach of the Decadeon Tuesday. The a...
Garrett Acton earns preseason All-American nod
By JJ Kim, Managing Editor for Reporting
December 18, 2019
Illinois' right-handed reliever Garrett Acton earned a spot on the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper All-America second team following his junior season with the Illini. The All-American closer put up a 2.18 ERA, .127 batting average against and 95 strikeouts last season, all of which were team bests....
Illinois adds former MLB pitching coordinator Mark Allen to coaching staff
By Meghan Rest, Sports Editor
October 10, 2019
The Illinois baseball team named former San Francisco Giants’ pitching coordinator Mark Allen as the program’s pitching coach, head coach Dan Hartleb announced Tuesday. Allen joins the Illini following nine seasons in professional baseball and nine seasons working with college programs. “I (am) ...
Illini close fall season 2-1
By Gabby Hajduk, Staff Writer
October 4, 2019
Illinois baseball closed out its shortfall season with a 15-3 win over the Great Lakes Canadians. The Illini previously hosted Indiana State in an 8-2 loss on Sept. 28 and traveled to Butler on Sept. 14, winning 16-6. While coming out of the fall 2-1 is a positive, head coach Dan Hartleb said before...
Hartleb introduces Canadian club team to Illinois
By Rachel Spencer, Assistant Sports Editor
September 30, 2019
Our friendly neighbors to the north are best known for maple syrup, universal health care, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and for being home to the 2019 NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors. Canadian athletic programs often venture down past their southern border to compete against American teams — an...
Snarskis transitions from teammate to coach
By Gabby Hajduk, Staff Writer
September 26, 2019
For the first time in his baseball career, former Illinois pitcher Quinn Snarskis isn’t stretching during warm-ups or waiting for reps in the bullpen. Instead, he’s conversing with the coaches on practice plans or analyzing the young Illini pitchers. Just one year removed from his playing career, Snarskis is ...
Illini optimistic after offseason progress
By Gabby Hajduk, Staff Writer
September 12, 2019
After a disappointing end to the best season since 2015, Illinois baseball has taken the summer to reflect on the four straight postseason losses in the spring. With a chip on their shoulder and unfinished business, the Illini have used the off months as a catalyst for growth. Nine Illini played in...
Seven Illini sign with MLB, tie second-largest draft year
June 23, 2019
Following the MLB draft earlier in June, seven Illini have signed contracts with professional teams, including six drafted members of the Illinois baseball team and one free agent. The six draft picks tied the second-place record for most in a single draft for Illinois. Michael Massey was the first...
Colorado Rockies draft Yalowitz in 10th round
By JJ Kim, Assistant Sports Editor
June 4, 2019
Senior Illini outfielder Jack Yalowitz was selected in the 10th round by the Colorado Rockies. The 309th overall pick was the second Illini taken in the MLB draft after junior Michael Massey was taken in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals. “Lets. Go!!! Been an honor to play with this guy. Incredible r...
Kansas City Royals draft Michael Massey
By JJ Kim, Assistant Sports Editor
June 4, 2019
With the 109th overall pick in the fourth round of the MLB draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Illinois’ junior second baseman Michael Massey. Massey is the highest-selected middle infielder in Illinois history and became yet another Illini drafted within the first four rounds of the draft i...
Baseball drops two at NCAA regional
By Rachel Spencer, Assistant Sports Editor
June 2, 2019
It wasn’t the ending Illinois baseball was looking for in the postseason. Illinois was eliminated from the Oxford, Mississippi, NCAA regional on Saturday after a 7-5 loss to Jacksonville State. The game was the Illini’s chance at redemption after losing in the opening round of regional play to the C...
Big Ten recognizes UI athletes’ academics
By Hannah Preston, Interim editor-in-chief
May 30, 2019
On Wednesday, 1,824 students were named to the spring Big Ten Academic All-Conference team, eligibility determined by varsity-team status, full-time student status and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. From the University, a total of 73 spring student-athletes were selected. Baseball David Craan Casey D...
