Baseball

Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Archives

Nov. 9, 2005

Illinois coach Dan Hartleb announced his first signing class of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent Wednesday afternoon. Blake Fairchild, a left-handed pitcher from Mattoon, Ill., Mike Giller, an infielder/catcher from Chicago, Ill., Craig Lutes, an outfielder from Normal, Ill., Kevin Manson, a right-handed pitcher from Park Ridge, Ill., Joe Mercurio, a catcher from Brewster, N.Y., Daniel Webb, an outfielder from Anna, Ill., Brandon Wikoff, an infielder from Peoria, Ill., and Lee Zerrusen, a right-handed pitcher from Teutopolis, Ill., make up the 2006 signing class.

"We're very pleased with how the recruiting process unfolded," Hartleb said. "We feel like we were able to recruit strong student-athletes to fill our needs. We were able to bring in quality people who have leadership skills as well as great athletic ability. This group will be a solid core of players that will help us compete at the top of the Big Ten and propel us into the NCAA tournament in the future."

The Illini welcome four left-handed hitters to the squad, as well as a southpaw pitcher. Balancing that are two right-handed pitchers and right-handed hitting catcher Joe Mercurio. Seven of the eight signees are from the state of Illinois, from Park Ridge in the north to Anna in the south, and Mercurio, who hails from Brewster, N.Y.

"We were able to recruit representatives from throughout the state, which is important, and we were able to keep many of the state's best players at home," Hartleb continued. "Plus, we were able to go outside the state and bring in a high-profile athlete who will help us compete at a championship level in the future."

Biographical sketches of the 2005-06 Illinois baseball signees:

LHP Blake Fairchild

Blake Fairchild, LHP
6-4 • 195 • L/L • FR • Mattoon HS • Mattoon, Ill.

Notes: Was a unanimous All-Big 12 selection in 2005 • Honorable mention All-Area in 2005 • Allowed opponents to hit only .161 in 2005 while striking out 79 batters • Compiled a 1.62 ERA in 2005 • Throws three pitches for strikes, with his fastball touching the low 90-mph range • Also starred at the plate, hitting .416 with eight home runs • Lists his biggest thrill in sports as hitting a home run at Busch Stadium.

Coach Hartleb on Fairchild: "Blake has a very good, long, lean body. He has very good life on his fastball and has shown a feel for three pitches. Blake has shown that he can pitch in the 90-mph range (89-91). He is an athlete whose best days are ahead of him as he matures physically, gets stronger and continues to develop. Blake brings a much-needed quality left-handed arm to our program.

IF/C Michael Giller

Michael Giller, IF/C
6-3 • 195 • L/R • FR • St. Patrick HS • Chicago, Ill.

Notes: Hit .512 in East Suburban Catholic Conference play in 2005 • Averaged a home run every 10 at-bats and stole 23-of-24 bases in 2005 • Slugged .877 with 110 total bases in 114 at-bats over 38 games in 2005 • Three-year letterwinner in baseball and lettered twice in basketball • Has been named All-East Suburban Catholic in both baseball and basketball • Participated in the 2004 Senior World Series in Bangor, Maine, and the 2005 Junior All-Stars • Played in the Perfect Game AFLAC Midwest Showcase • Invited to work out for the White Sox, Phillies, Indians and Devil Rays.

Assistant coach Eric Snider on Giller: "He's a competitive, tough gamer who can play anywhere on the field. He's very strong offensively and can hit in the middle of the lineup for us. His bat could get him in the lineup as a freshman. He's solid defensively and he'll give us great versatility in our lineup. Overall, he's a perfect fit for our program."

OF Craig Lutes

Craig Lutes, OF
6-0 • 175 • L/L • FR • Normal Community HS • Normal, Ill.

Notes: Led Normal Community to a state tournament appearance in 2004 after capturing the regional and sectional titles • Was a unanimous All-Big 12 Conference selection in 2005, as well as an Illinois High School Coaches Association All-State selection • Four-year letterwinner in baseball and football, and has three letters in basketball • Hit .355 with 23 RBI, four home runs and four triples in 2005 • Slugged .634 with a .450 on-base percentage in 2005 • Reached the American Legion state tournament in 2004 with the Bloomington Gold team • Played in the 2005 IHSCA All-Star game • Currently plays quarterback for a Normal Community football team still alive in the Class 6A quarterfinals • Lists his biggest thrill in sports as batting leadoff as a sophomore in Normal Community's first-ever state tournament appearance in 2004.

Coach Snider on Lutes: "Craig is a solid offensive and defensive player. He has a good hitting approach with strike zone awareness, and is going to be a solid all-around player for us. He's another perfect fit for our program."

RHP Kevin Manson

Kevin Manson, RHP
6-7 • 192 • R/R • FR • Maine South HS • Park Ridge, Ill.

Notes: Went 6-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 62 innings in 2005, throwing 57 strikeouts • Accounted for half of Maine South's wins in spring of 2005 • Named Maine South MVP and Pitcher of the Year in 2005 • Competed in the Central Suburban League Showdown in 2005 • Throws in the mid- to high-80 mph range and could increase as he gets stronger.

Coach Hartleb on Manson: "He has a very, very projectable pitcher's body at 6-7. His build and added strength helped his velocity to continually improve throughout the summer (87-89 mph). As his physical maturity and strength continue to increase, we feel that Kevin will consistently pitch in the high-80s and low-90s. Kevin has also shown the ability to throw a very good breaking ball and to pitch effectively in tough situations."

C Joe Mercurio

Joe Mercurio, C
6-2 • 185 • R/R • FR • Kennedy Catholic • Brewster, N.Y.

Notes: One of Baseball America's Top 300 players and played in the AFLAC Perfect Game National Showcase, regarded as a platform for the top 40 players in the nation • Led World Yacht Clippers summer team to 2004 Triple Crown Sports Las Vegas National Championship • Named MVP of that tournament and Most Valuable Hitter in 2003 TCS Myrtle Beach Eastern Regional • 2004 Triple Crown Sports Northeast Player of the Year • Three-time Triple Crown Sports All-Northeast Team • Threw out 12-of-14 runners stealing in 2005 and 14-of-15 in 2004 action for Kennedy, while picking off 18 runners combined those two seasons • Hit .467 in 2005 with 23 RBI and a .727 on-base percentage • Batted .403 with 19 RBI and a .600 OBP in 2004 • Led Clippers to the 2004 College Select Rhode Island Tournament Championship • Has 11 varsity letters - four each in baseball and soccer, and three in basketball • Father played baseball and football at Iona • Grandfather signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates but was unable to play because of World War II.

Coach Snider on Mercurio: "Joe has shown the ability to handle a pitching staff well and will be another coach on the field for us. He's a solid receiver who throws very well. With his maturity and leadership ability, Joe will have a good career here and will add to our great catcher tradition. He's the kind of player who will make others around him better."

OF Daniel Webb

Daniel Webb, OF
6-1 • 195 • L/R • JR • John A. Logan College • Anna, Ill.

Notes: Named All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference and All-Region 24 in 2005 while playing for John A. Logan College • Will have two years of eligibility with the Illini • Finished second in batting last summer in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League with a .369 average for the Delaware Cows • Led Anna-Jonesboro High School to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 IHSA state tournament as a junior • Hit .600 that season with 53 RBI and 16 runs, 11 doubles and three home runs • Also went 7-0 with a 1.51 ERA in 37.0 innings, striking out 52 and walking 10 in 2002 • Won eight varsity letters at A-J - four in baseball and two each in football and basketball • Named Southern Illinoisan Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 • Earned recognition on IHSCA All-State and All-Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference teams in high school.

Coach Snider on Webb: "We feel Daniel will be an everyday outfielder for us because of his solid defense. He has good leadership qualities and projects as a middle-of-the-order type of hitter. He's a mature player who uses the whole field. He's a perfect fit for our program."

IF Brandon Wikoff

Brandon Wikoff, IF
5-8 • 150 • L/R • FR • Limestone HS • Peoria, Ill.
Notes: Led Limestone to a fourth-place finish at the 2005 IHSA state championship • Hit .464 in 2005 with 44 runs, 15 RBI and 15 doubles • Also ended with a 9-3 pitching record that season, holding a 2.75 ERA in 76 1/3 innings, striking out 103 while walking only 18 • Named Peorial Journal Star Player of the Year in 2005 • Named All-Mid-Illini Conference in 2004 and 2005 • Also led his American Legion team to the state tournament in 2005 • Competed in the 2004 and 2005 McDonald's All-Star games • Has seven varsity letters - three each in baseball and basketball, one in football • Lists his biggest thrill in sports as a come-from-behind 9-8 win over Waubonsie Valley in the 2005 state tournament after trailing 8-2.

Coach Snider on Wikoff: "Brandon is a leadoff-type hitter who can swing the bat and who puts the ball in play to all fields. He has an outstanding throwing arm and is a competitor with good make-up. He's a perfect fit for our program and has a very good feel for the game."

RHP Lee Zerrusen

Lee Zerrusen, RHP
6-3 • 165 • R/R • FR • Teutopolis HS • Teutopolis, Ill.

Notes: Led Teutopolis to third-place finish in the 2005 IHSA state tournament, losing to eventual champion Wilmington and current Illini Tanner Roark • Had a win and a save in the state tournament, and didn't allow an earned run • Also led the Wooden Shoes to the state tournament in 2004 • Finished 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 2005, striking out 51 and walking nine in 45 1/3 innings • Also hit .361 with 30 runs and 26 RBI, plus seven triples • Led Teutopolis to consecutive National Trail Conference championships in 2004-05 • 2005 NTC Player of the Year • Lists Kiwane Garris as his Fighting Illini hero when he was young.

Coach Hartleb on Zerrusen: "Lee is a competitive, strong-armed pitcher (87-91 mph) with a very promising upside. He has all the intangibles to be an outstanding pitcher for us. He's shown he can pitch in tough games at a high level with his performance at the state tournament. He has a very good pitching frame and we think he'll be a pitcher who will be able to consistently throw in the low-90 mph range as he matures physically."