FightingIllini.com
The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics
- Men's Sports
- MEN'S SPORTS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Golf
- WOMEN'S SPORTS
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 - Earned the starting second base job at the end of the season by going 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI and a career-high three RBI in the nightcap of the Saturday doubleheader at Michigan State . . . Started 11 games at second near the end of the season . . . Doubled in the final two games against Michigan State . . . Also scored the game-winning run in the first game of the MSU series in a pinch running appearance.
2001 - Converted infielder started the last 19 games in left field for Illinois dating back to April 18 contest at UIC . . . Appeared in the starting line-up everyday as either DH or left fielder since game four of Northwestern series on April 1 . . . Hit .236 with 17 runs scored and 15 RBI . . . First career hit came March 10 at San Jose State . . . First career RBI was March 14 vs. Bucknell at the Fresno State Classic . . . Had seven two-hit games . . . Career-high six-game hitting streak came April 6-13 . . . Hit .385 over four starts at Ohio State as he solidified his place in the everyday starting line-up . . . Got the game-winning RBI in game two against Southern Illinois . . . Eight of his 15 RBI (53 percent) came with two outs . . . Appeared in 43 games and started 32.
High School - Earned nine varsity letters at Bartlett, three each in baseball, football and basketball . . . Named honorable mention all-state honors as a senior in baseball . . . Earned all-conference honors three years in baseball and all-area honors twice . . . Participated in both the 1999 and 2000 all-star games and in the 2000 IHSA Hitting Derby . . . Named MVP of his team as a senior . . . Led the conference in hits as a senior . . . Voted one of the top 50 players in the state as a senior.
Personal - Parents are Chuck and Nancy DiMaria . . . Majoring in sports management with a concentration in advertising . . . Named “Mr. Senior” at Bartlett High . . . Served as student council treasurer . . . Hobbies include fishing . . . Lists biggest thrill in sports as having the opportunity to be on the field playing a game some never have the opportunity to . . . Favorite athlete is Mark Grace because of his gracefulness on the field . . . Plans after playing days are over include coaching and teaching, something to help others with their game . . . Lists his parents as the biggest influence on his athletic career because they “were the ones who got me started with baseball. If they never put me in the game I may never have known where it could take me.”
