Illinois State Club Baseball

3/11/2010 The ISCB Redbirds received 12 votes in the NCBA D-I Top 20 Poll for Week 37. It ties the highest amount of votes the club has ever received. The Redbirds are putting the country on notice after tearing up Plant City in their six games to date, with the finale of the No. 14 ranked Pittsburgh to come Friday. With the votes, ISCB is officially the 30th ranked team in the country and looking to move up win after win.

3/11/2010 ISCB got off to great start in Day Three of the 2010 Spring Training Showcase Thursday, stomping Michigan State 15-2 to run its record to 5-1. Sophomore Ryan Wegner picked up the win and the Spartans' lineup card (the new ISCB tradition) in the five-inning slaughter rule victory. The 'Birds put up a four spot in the third inning with an RBI single by shortstop Jonny Basinski and a three-run, opposite field homer from junior first baseman Scott Stratton that put ISU up 6-1. After Wegner shut the door in the bottom of the third, the Redbirds jumped all over the Spartan pitching staff, putting together a nine-run inning highlighted by an opposite field grand slam from freshman third baseman Mike Oles.

Wegner allowed a solo run in the bottom of the fourth before sophomore Corey Hooker came in to preserve the victory in the bottom of the fifth, striking out two in his one inning of work.

In the nightcap, after another three-hour layoff, the Redbirds matched up against No. 14 ranked Pittsburgh. After junior Adam Maus allowed two runs in the top of the first, the 'Birds went to work in the bottom of the second as John Meyer hit a long home run to left field and Steve Judd followed a few batters later with an RBI single to tie the game.

The two teams remained deadlocked until the rain began to come down in droves in the top of the sixth inning as Maus had run the count to 2-2 on the Spartan batter with two outs and a runner on first.

The game is scheduled to be made up Friday at 10 a.m., barring weather and field conditions. Stay tuned for the rest of the Pitt game recap.

3/10/2010 The Redbirds followed up their historical first day in the 2010 Spring Training Showcase by winning the first two contests in a three-game day.

ISCB topped Central Michigan 7-6 in an action-packed, thrilling extra-inning first game. The 'Birds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first as sophomore right fielder Ryan Wegner led off with a walk and a steal before coming around to score on a long home run to left field by sophomore third baseman John Meyer. After Central Michigan followed with a two-run homer of its own in the top half of the second inning, ISCB took advantage of some shoddy fielding from the Chippewas and pushed across two more runs. They added single tallies in the third and fourth innings.

Junior starting pitcher Jake Timmins induced ground ball after ground ball, with the only blemish on his stat-line coming from the second-inning home run, until the top of the fifth when, after a fly out to Mike Orlando in center, Timmins hit a batter, gave up a single, walked a batter, gave up an RBI single and then gave up a long single on what most in attendance said was the craziest play they had ever seen on a baseball field.

With one out, runners on first and second and the score 6-4 in favor of ISU, the Chippewas third baseman hit a long fly ball to right field. Wegner tracked the ball down, but was unable to catch it and, after corralling it in the right field corner, hurriedly threw the ball into cutoff man Kevin Barber. The Central Michigan runner on second base had to hold up to see if Wegner could catch the ball or not, so the runner on first had caught up to him and both were barrelling around third base as catcher Chris Scholten took the relay from Barber. Scholten stood waiting as two games came rumbling down the third base line and proceeded to tag both runners on a play that one Central Michigan player called "crazy. It was something you see out of a movie like 'Angels in the Outfield,' or something like that."

The play saved a tie game, but only for an inning as the Chippewas pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Neither team scored until the bottom of the eighth when pinch hitter Jack Scotty led off the inning with a walk. Shortstop Corey Hooker attempted to bunt him over, but walked instead and Wegner instead laid down a sacrific bunt, pushing Scotty to third and Hooker to second. Orlando was walked intentionally and John Meyer stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. He hit a high-chopping ground ball to the Central Michigan second baseman, who tagged out Orlando, but the ball slipped out of his glove and the Chippewas could not complete the double play, so Scotty strolled across home plate with the winning run. It was the fourth RBI of the game for Meyer.

"It was a huge win," sophomore outfielder Kevin Massoth said. "It shows the character of our team, just giving up a lead, but being able to right the ship and coming back and getting a win out of it. Even after guys made mistakes, we picked each other up and still get the job done."

Adam Maus pitched a scoreless top of the eighth to pick up the win and receive the Central Michigan lineup card, a new tradition started by senior Dan Voss where the winning pitcher in each ISCB win will be awarded the opposing team's lineup card.

The Redbirds kept their season-opening winning streak alive in Game Two with a 9-0 win over Division-II Michigan Tech. Voss pitched a complete game shutout, striking out seven hitters and allowed only four hits in the process. Massoth and sophomore left fielder Elliot Ganet each scored a run in the top of the first on some shaky fielding from Michigan Tech, but the 'Birds did not score again until the sixth when Ganet started a five-run rally with a single. Scott Stratton followed with a booming double and Mike Oles walked. Two batters later, Barber smacked a two-out, two-run triple to right field and came around to score on a triple by catcher Teja Stypolkowski, who later scored on a Michigan Tech error.

ISCB added two runs in the top of the seventh to finish the game with a big 9-0 win.

The Redbirds' winning streak came to an end in their third game of the day with a 7-2 loss to Bowling Green after a two-hour layoff between Game Two and Game Three. Senior pitcher Mike Macfarlane started and struggled with his control, but it was unstable fielding behind him that led to seven unearned runs. Bowling Green managed just four hits in the game, but received 11 free passes in the form of nine walks and two hit batters.

The 'Birds managed just two runs in the game, both coming in the second inning off of an RBI double by Scotty and an RBI groundout from shortstop Steve Judd.

The game turned into a heated contest as, after allowing five runs in the second inning and two in the fourth, ISCB attempted to make a comeback, but inconsistent umpiring made that very difficult. ISCB coach Tony Andracki was ejected for arguing balls and strikes and both Meyer and Orlando were issued warnings.

"[The home plate umpire] was just incredibly inconsistent and unprofessional," Andracki said. "He wasn't the reason why we lost--we gave up 11 free passes, managed just one hit and made some poor defensive plays--but he was the reason why we felt like we couldn't come back. The strike-three call on Judd [with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth] was ridiculous. The pitch was a foot-and-a-half outside."

Despite the loss, the Redbirds still finished Day Two with a 4-1 record, the best start in ISCB history. The 'Birds had a day off Wednesday, but get back to work Thursday with matchups against Michigan State and No. 13-ranked University of Pittsburgh.

3/8/2010  There's a popular saying that "it's not how you start, it's how you finish." Try telling that to the ISCB Redbirds.

The 'Birds kicked off their 2010 season in impressive fashion, knocking off the third-ranked team in the nation, Penn State, Monday 3-0. Sophomore pitcher Aaron Augustyniak led the charge, striking out nine Nittany Lions in seven hard-fought innings. ISU only managed four hits, but made the most of their opportunities. The Redbirds got on the board in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore left fielder Elliot Ganet led off the inning with a double and junior second baseman Steven Judd advanced him to third with a groundout. After a strikeout and a walk, senior centerfielder Mike Orlando reached on an error to score Ganet for the first run of the game.

Sophomore shortstop Corey Hooker reached on a one-out basehit in the bottom of the fifth and came around to score on a triple by right fielder Ryan Wegner. Orlando drove Wegner in with a groundout to close out the scoring.

Augustyniak allowed seven hits and five walks, but got himself out of jam after jam, including a bases loaded, two-out situation in the bottom of the seventh by inducing a pop out to Judd.

As Judd corralled the popup, the Redbirds went nuts on the bench.

"Honestly, I was just so elated," senior Dan Voss said. "Emotions were so high at that moment and I was just so happy for our whole team, Augie especially. For our second time playing outside since October, to pull off the biggest win in the history of the four years of the club is just flat out amazing."

The Redbirds kept their train rolling in Game Two as they allowed a single run in a 3-1 win over No. 29 ranked Appalachian State. Shortstop Jonny Basinski got the ball rolling for ISU with a single in the first and came around to score on a single by senior left fielder Chris Scholten. Basinski had to barrel over the catcher for the run, enciting a short delay as tempers ran wild on the diamond.

Junior first baseman Scott Stratton drove in designated hitter Scott Walider with a screaming double to deep center before right fielder Jack Scotty drove in the third and final run of the game with a bloop double down the left field line.

Junior Russell Johnson started and threw six solid innings to pick up the win. He struck out four and walked five in his six innings, scattering five basehits. Junior Michael Reiland came in to pitch a perfect seventh inning to pick up the save, striking out two in the process.

The 2-0 Redbirds take on Central Michigan at 9am Tuesday morning as part of a three-game Day Two in the Spring Training Showcase.

5/4/2009    Illinois State Club Baseball has finished it's 2009 campaign in third place behind University of Illinois and Indiana University in the Great Lakes South Conference.  The 12-8 (7-6) record is the best finish in ISCB history. 

4/3/2009    The times for the U of I games this weekend are changed around somewhat. ISCB will facing U of I at 7pm on Saturday and start a double header on Sunday at 11am. Here is a link to the directions to their website. https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/IllinoisClubBaseball/New_HTML/NewWebsite.html. Just click on facilities.

Also, after going 4-1 in its first five games of conference (9-3 overall), ISCB has received 12 top 20 votes. Congrats boys. http://clubbaseball.com/files/2009_NCBA_Week40_TOP20.pdf

4/1/2009   ISCB would like to congratulate Chris Scholten and Aaron Augustyniak after being named GLCS Players of the Week.

Scholten was .500 at the plate going 3 for 6 with 2 doubles, 4 RBI's, and one run scored in a key early match-up with Ball State. Aaron was a one hit wonder vs. Ball State throwing a 5-inning complete game shutout walking two and striking out 7 in the 1 hit, mercy rule win.

ISCB is looking forward to a 3 game series this weekend at conference foe U of I.

3/23/2009 
ISCB would like to congratulate Scott Waldier and Russell Johnson after being named GLCS Players of the Week.

Waldier lit it up at Spring Training going 9 for 15 with 4 doubles, a triple, 7 RBI's, 4 runs, and 4 walks &  in relief of two games, Russell threw 5 innings, earning two wins. He allowed only 1 earned run (2 overall) while striking out two, allowing two hits and seven walks.

Also, the Redbirds started off conference play by going 3-0 against Columbia College and added a non-conference win in the last game of the weekend. It was a weekend highlighted by 3 home runs with one each by Chris Scholten, Mike Orlando, and Drew Hannan. The Birds outscored Columbia 58-12 in the 4 game series.

11/7/2007:  Illinois State Club Baseball has decided that it will retire the numbers 24 and 8 for Jim Bryla and Adam Gogola respectively.  Jim and Adam were the co-founders of ISCB and put in a lot of hard work and time in order to provide many future players with the priviledge to continue playing baseball competitively.  Jim was the inaugural president and Adam was the inaugural vice president for ISCB.  Also, both played during the inaugural season for ISCB to add to their list of accomplishments and achievements here at Illinois State University.  Congratulations Jim and Adam. 

10/31/2007:  Illinois State Club Baseball's Co-Founder and reigning Vice President Adam Gogola has officially decided to step down from his officer role.  It is widely agreed that Adam will be missed and that he has meant a lot to Illinois State Club Baseball.  As a result, Billy Wolfe has been promoted from Treasurer to Vice President and Tony Andracki has been promoted from Secretary to Treasurer.  After an election involving all returning players, Jack Nelson has been selected as the new Secretary.  Congratulations to all officers and their new positions.

10/29/2007:  For those of you who do not know, the NCBA has split this year into two divisions.  This will make for better competition across the country in each conference.  The Great Lakes South Conference is considered Division I and will lose SIU-Carbonale, SIU-Edwardsville, and Northern Kentucky University to Division II.  However, Columbia University will join the conference making the GLSC a tough 6-team conference.

10/28/2007:  Congratulations to all of the guys who made the 2008 NCBA spring roster.  The roster was selected tonight and posted on the ISCB homepage for the time being.  All players are to meet in the fieldhouse on Tuesday October 30th for our first team meeting at 7pm.  Look out for updates on the website for practice schedule along with a few new features. 

2/18/2007:  ISCB continues to practice and prepare for the upcoming season.  With only two weeks left until their first games, and three until the tournament in Florida, the team is getting antsy to get outside and play.  However, the snow is beginning to pose a problem, so the first series vs. Columbia University may be played indoors depending on whether or not Columbia can schedule it somewhere.  Florida may be the first time ISCB gets to play on a real field, with the highlight of the trip coming in the second game vs. Penn State University, who is nationally ranked #2--a great test for ISCB.

11/7/2006: ISCB has officially entered the Annual NCBA Spring Training Showcase! The showcase starts Saturday March 10th and runs til Saturday March 17th. We will be playing in 4 NCBA sanctioned games in Tampa, FL as well as creating some chemistry with the newly formed team.

10/20/06: The spring roster will be officially announced in a few days, first of all we want to say thanks a lot to everybody who played this fall, we had a great time and we hope you play next year if you're still at ISU. With the spring roster being announced Monday practice at Horton Field House will be mandatory for each person on the spring roster.  The practice schedule will be kept on our home page and if you CANNOT make it to a practice you must have a VALID reason (class, work, family emergency, etc.), and you must let us know in advance.  Only about a third of the guys playing in the fall are going to make the spring roster, and if you make it but don't show commitment it will be very easy to find somebody to take your roster spot.

If your name is on the spring roster you will be expected to be at practice next week.  Practices will be for the spring roster only at first, next semester we might open them up to guys that played in the fall and didn't make the team, if they are planning on trying out again; this will be on a case by case basis so stay in touch with us if you plan on playing next year.

We realize that this league is not flawless, and we appreciate everyone having fun and helping out with making it a success in the first year.  Through all the hard work, we tried as hard as we could to make this as close to a real league as possible, but sometimes we forget a thing or two in the process.  We hope that in the years to come you will continue to come back and play club baseball, and help to better this league, program and create an outstanding reputation for baseball at Illinois State.

Thanks again guys. We had a great fall!

Jim, Adam, Luke, and Matt