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 | Class:
RS Senior
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| Hometown:
Normal, Ill.
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| High School:
Normal West
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| Last College:
Illinois State
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| Height / Weight:
6-0 / 185
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| Position:
RHP
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| Birthdate:
01/11/1983
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| B/T:
R/R
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QUICK HITS
• Became Illinois' Sunday starter late in year
• Allowed three or fewer runs in three of five starts
AT ILLINOIS
2006 Senior: Made a career-high 16 appearances, including five starts • Compiled a 2-3 record with a save in 34 1/3 innings • Had his best outing in the series finale against Northwestern (4/16), giving up just one run on five hits and a walk in a five-inning start while striking out two to get the win • Recorded his other win in relief in the series finale at South Florida (3/5), allowing a run on two hits in two innings • Notched his lone save against Cornell on 3/23, giving up a hit in a scoreless 2/3 of an innning • Also made Big Ten starts against Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota • Struck out one in a perfect relief outing against Missouri, going 1 2/3 innings • Allowed an unearned run on one hit in an inning of relief against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament.
2005 Redshirt Junior: Moved into third starter role, making five starts, four in Sunday games of Big Ten series • Allowed two runs in seven innings at Indiana (4/24) to pick up first win at Illinois • Tossed a complete game, two-run effort vs. Northwestern (5/8), striking out a career-high six and walking one • Kept Illinois close in the regular season finale vs. Iowa (5/21), allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings while striking out three and not allowing a walk • Played for the East Peoria Scrappers of the Central Illinois Collegiate League in the summer of 2005 • Went 4-2 for East Peoria with a 2.53 ERA in 32 innings, striking out 15 and walking six • Assisted with two combined shutouts for the Scrappers.
2004 Junior: Missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John reconstructive surgery on his elbow.
2003 Sophomore: Made his Illini career debut against MacMurray College on April 9, throwing two innings and allowing one hit while striking out three in a 9-4 win.
PRIOR TO ILLINOIS
2002 Freshman: Played at Illinois State before transferring at the semester break • Threw 31 2/3 innings as a freshman, compiling a 1-0 record and 5.68 ERA in 13 appearances that included one start.
HIGH SCHOOL
Earned eight varsity letters at Normal West: three each in baseball and football and two in basketball • Posted an 18-3 combined pitching record over his high school career • Earned All-Conference honors twice in baseball and played in the Pantagraph area All-Star game, along with the Illinois High School Coaches Association All-Star game • At coaches All-Star game, threw two innings, striking out five without allowing a hit while going 2-for-2 with a double at the plate • Earned Normal West Senior Athlete of the Year honors for the 2000-01 school year • In football, led team to a 6-3 record and playoff appearance (second in school history) as a senior.
PERSONAL
Born Jan. 11, 1983 • Parents are Jeff and Amy Stewart • Pursuing a master's degree in human resources and industrial resources • Father, Jeff, who is currently a scout for the San Diego Padres and former head coach at Illinois State, played football at Illinois • Lists his dad as the biggest influence on his career because "I developed a love for the game attending the games he was coaching" • Lists biggest thrill in sports as winning the American Legion JV state tournament in the summer of 1999.
