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1999:
* Illinois' No. 3 Big Ten starter
* Posted an 8.61 ERA and 0-3 record
on the year including a 7.94 ERA and 0-3 mark in conference play
* Bad luck
starter threw complete games against both Michigan and Northwestern only to
receive one run of offensive support over the two games
* Threw
three-hitter at Northwestern
* Struck out a career-high 10 over six innings
against Michigan
* Held Michigan State to just one run in 4 1/3 innings of
work in relief to allow Illinois to stage its dramatic 17-run comeback in
game four of series against MSU
* Earned a spot in the starting rotation
after performance against Michigan State
* Allowed four runs and seven hits
while striking out six in start against Iowa that Illinois eventually won
in final at bat
* Threw 3 2/3 innings in final game of season against
Minnesota out of the bullpen, allowing only one run on two hits, but
Illinois was unable to rally and win the Big Ten tournament elimination
game
* Named to the Northwoods League all-star team after posting a 5-2
record with a 2.63 ERA for the St. Cloud Riverbats
1998:
* Tore his ACL sliding back into first base on a pick-off attempt at
Houston and missed the remainder of the season
* Played in four games,
three at the plate and one on the mound
* Received a medical redshirt for
1998
1997:
* Finished the season with a 1-2 record
* Started three games and
appeared in seven on the mound
* Defeated No. 15 Ohio State, 11-5, pitching
7 2/3 innings in the start
* Allowed six hits and five runs against the
Buckeyes
* Also started against Indiana State, pitching six innings and
giving up one run only to lose, 1-0
HIGH SCHOOL:
* An all-around athlete, he earned six letters: two each in
football, basketball and baseball
* Set the Mattoon strikeout record with
101 K's in 65 2/3 innings
* Was 10-0 with a 1.17 ERA his senior season
* Tied the school record with six triples in 1996
* Named first-team
all-conference in 1996 in baseball
* Team made it to sectional championship
his junior year before losing to Chatham-Glenwood, who defeated Mattoon
behind former Illini Todd McClure's no-hitter
* Was an honorable mention
all-conference pick in basketball in '96
* A Mizuno All-America honorable
mention pick
* Competed against the USA Red White and Blue Junior Olympic
team
* Was the recipient of the 1996 Outstanding Senior Letterwinner Award
PERSONAL:
* Parents are Steve and Janis Walk
* Majoring
in speech communications
* Biggest sports thrill was playing baseball in
Australia and making two all-tournament teams
* Came to Illinois because of
its traditions
* His father, Steve, led his team to the 1978 Fastpitch
Softball National Championship
* Lists his father as his favorite athlete
because "he works harder than anyone else I know"
* Member of the National
Honor Society in high school
* Enjoys drawing and coaching little kids
* Lists his parents as the biggest influences on his career because they have always supported him
