Feb. 18, 2009
Illinois Notes for Big East/Big Ten Challenge 
Games 1-3 // Big East/Big Ten Challenge
Feb. 20 // Iowa // 6:30 pm // Jack Russell Stadium
Feb. 21 // Notre Dame // 6:30 pm // McKechnie Field
Feb. 22 // West Virginia // Noon // Raymond A. Naimoli Complex
Tournament Insider
Iowa (0-0) vs. ILLINOIS (0-0)
ILL Probable: Phil Haig (LHP, 2-3, 6.19 ERA)*
IOWA Probable: Michael Jacobs (LHP, 3-5, 6.63 ERA)*
Live Stats: Gametracker on fightingillini.com
Series: Illinois leads 121-77-2, 2-0 in neutral-site games
Last Meeting: Illinois won 12-3 (5/23/07)
Streak: W1
Notre Dame (0-0) vs. ILLINOIS (0-0)
ILL Probable: Kevin Manson (RHP, 8-2, 5.42 ERA)*
UND Probable: Eric Maust (RHP, 6-3, 4.52 ERA)*
Live Stats: Gametracker on fightingillini.com
Series: Illinois leads 36-23
Last Meeting: Notre Dame won 4-2 (3/12/06)
Streak: L4
West Virginia (0-0) vs. ILLINOIS (0-0)
ILL Probable: Ben Reeser (RHP, 3-2, 4.04 ERA)*
WVU Probable: TBA
Live Stats: Gametracker on fightingillini.com
Series: Illinois leads 5-0
Last Meeting: Illinois won 4-3 (3/2/01)
Streak: W5
*2008 statistics
Illini Open Season at Big East/Big Ten Challenge
Illinois opens its 130th season of baseball at the inaugural Big East/Big Ten Challenge in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla., area. The Fighting Illini will open the campaign against conference foe Iowa in a non-conference tilt at Clearwater's Jack Russell Stadium before facing Notre Dame at McKechnie Field in Bradenton and West Virginia at the Raymond A. Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg. The event is the first of its kind in college baseball and features all 10 Big Ten squads along with eight teams from the Big East Conference. Because of that imbalance, each day will feature eight inter-conference matchups as well as one game between Big Ten teams who aren't scheduled to face each other in a league series this season.
Jack Russell Stadium is the former spring training home to the Philadelphia Phillies, while McKechnie Field is the current spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Naimoli Complex was the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays through the 2008 season.
Illinois Against Challenge Field
The Fighting Illini hold a 121-77-2 lead in the all-time series against Iowa and are 2-0 against the Hawkeyes in neutral-field competitions. In fact, this is the second-straight game the teams have met at a neutral site, with the Illini winning the teams' battle in the 2008 Big Ten Tournament opening game, 12-3.
Illinois has a 36-23 edge in the all-time series with Notre Dame but has lost four in a row dating back to 2000. The teams most recently met in 2006 at the Baseball Express Collegiate Baseball Classic in San Antonio, where the Fighting Irish took a 4-2 victory.
The Illini have won all five games they have ever played against West Virginia, most recently defeating the Mountaineers 4-3 in 2001.
Veterans Provide Strong Core of Lineup...
Illinois has its strongest group of veteran players in years, returning 61 percent (246 of 405) of its runs from 2008, with only Kyle Hudson (61 R), Ryan Hastings (46), Daniel Webb (34) and John Schlichter (18) not returning this season. In addition, the Illini return 62 percent (389 of 630) of their hits from a year ago. However, the most impressive stat may be the number of innings Illinois returns, with 88 percent returning as only Scott Shaw (56 1/3 IP) departed from the 2008 staff.
...But Youngsters Challenge for Lineup Spots
While the Illini return much of their offensive production and nearly off of their innings on the mound from 2008, a number of freshmen and sophomores will push their veteran counterparts for lineup spots. Sophomore Casey McMurray, a Freshman All-American in 2008, has left field locked up, while sophomore Phil Haig will start the season-opener against Iowa. In addition, sophomore Nick Chmielewski is expected to be one of the Illini's relief aces in 2009. Meanwhile, sophomore Pete Cappetta could earn a spot at second base, first base, right field or designated hitter this season.
In the freshman class, Josh Parr - a two-time All-State selection - could win the job at second base and four-sport high school star Willie Argo is expected to see time in the outfield. Rookie right-hander Bryan Roberts also will likely contribute on the mound after being named the No. 19 prospect in the state of Illinois.
Illini Have Earliest Home Opener Since 1986
After playing their first 23 games on the road in 2008, the Fighting Illini will host Akron on March 13-15, Illinois' earliest home opener since hosting Indiana on March 13, 1986. The series will mark the third time that the Illini have opened at home on March 13, matching the early starts in 1985 and 1986.
Professional Preview
Continuing a tradition of playing in professional ballparks, the Illini will play five games in minor league parks this season. Illinois kicks off the season with three games at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium in Edinburg, Texas, home to the Edinburg Coyotes of United League Baseball. Later in the season, Ilinois will travel to Rent One Park in Marion, Ill., to play Southern Illinois, and to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College, Pa., when it faces Penn State. In addition, the Illini will play in Huntington Park, the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, should they qualify for the Big Ten Tournament.
Illini Sign 7 for 2009
Head coach Dan Hartleb inked four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in November to join the Illini next fall. Infielder Christian Cummins (Harrisburg, Ill.) is listed as the No. 30 prospect by Prep Baseball Report and outfielder Davis Hendrickson (Macomb, Ill.) is PBR's third-best defensive outfielder in the state in the Class of 2009. Third baseman/shortstop Brandon Hohl (Mokena, Ill.) is PBR's seventh-best hitter in this class in the state and right-handed pitcher Kevin Johnson (Midlothian, Ill.) is PBR's No. 13 prospect. RHP/OF Matt Milroy (Batavia, Ill.) is the No. 1 two-way player in the state and the No. 8 recruit in the state by PBR, and OF/RHP Seth Schwindenhammer (Bartonville, Ill.) is listed as the No. 2 two-way player, No. 3 hitter and No. 8 fastball in the state in the Class of 2009 by PBR. Finally, utilityman Scott Sommerfeld (Manchester, Mo.) was a first-team All-State outfielder by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, one of only three juniors on the squad.
*Complete notes available in above PDF file
