June 26, 2007

Updated Summer League Statistics in PDF Format
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With 14 players spread across the country playing in summer collegiate leagues, Fighting Illini are making a splash nearly halfway through the summer season. Fighting Illini utility player Joe Bonadonna, who is with the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League, will be featured on the "Northwoods Baseball Weekly" show on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 28. ESPNU is DirecTV channel 609, Dish Network Channel 148 and available on some cable systems.

Among other Illini playing summer ball, pitcher Ben Reeser currently is 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA in 25 1/3 innings for the Fayetteville SwampDogs and pitcher Aaron Martin is 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 28 1/3 innings for Fayetteville. They have led the 'Dogs to an 18-4 start, a 6 ½-game lead in the Coastal Plain League South Division and the best record in the entire league by 2 ½ games. Reeser currently leads the CPL in ERA and has allowed just one earned run on 20 hits and three walks while striking out 13. Martin has been nearly as good, giving up four earned runs on 18 hits and 12 walks with 16 strikeouts and a .178 opponent batting average.

Offensively for the 'Dogs, Illini infielder Dominic Altobelli is fourth on the team with 17 hits, currently holds a .262 average with 10 RBI and has stolen 6-of-8 bases. Incoming junior college transfer John Schlichter is hitting .286 in just 10 games with Fayetteville and he also threw a perfect inning of relief earlier in the season.

Up north, six Illini are competing in the Northwoods League. Joe Bonadonna has had one of the best first halves among all Illinois players, breaking the Duluth Huskies single-season stolen base record with his 19th swipe of the season just 19 games into the year. He currently leads the NWL with 21 steals in 25 chances and is hitting .289 with a team-leading 14 runs and 11 RBI while hitting lead-off and playing second base nearly every day.

In Madison, both Brandon Wikoff and Daniel Webb are recovering from minor ankle injuries that landed them on the 10-day inactive list. Prior to that, Wikoff was fifth on the team with a .279 batting average in 43 at bats, scoring nine times, which is third-best on the squad, while primarily playing second base. Webb is second on the team with a .310 average and 10 RBI, while leading the Mallards with six doubles.

Scott Shaw and Mike Giller are playing for the Waterloo Bucks, and Shaw has put together a 1-2 record and 4.50 ERA. He's allowed just 22 hits in 26 innings, and has walked only eight while striking out 29. Giller is hitting .200 while playing mainly as a corner outfielder, driving in six runs and scoring four in 65 at bats. Craig Lutes is the final Illini in the NWL, playing for the Rochester Honkers. He's currently hitting .206 with 17 runs, second-most on the team, while splitting time between the outfield and designated hitter.

In the Chicago Suburban League, Mike Stankiewicz is 1-1 in three starts for the Crystal Lake Cardinals, holding a 2.95 ERA and striking out 24 while walking just three in 19 innings. Across town, Nick Stockwell and Matt Dittman have led the Lombard Orioles to a first-place standing in the league and Kevin Manson is pitching for the Crestwood Panthers.