— Speaking of spring training, just spoke to Jeff Baisley, who was hanging out at the game watching his brother, Brian, who is 0-for-3 in the game. First-pitch swinging for the younger Baisley has got him two outs on two pitches. As I’ve said before on this blog, Jeff is reporting to the Vancouver Canadians, the Oakland Athletics single A affiliate, on March 11. He batted .252, had six homers, 38 RBI, 28 runs, 15 doubles and a .413 slugging percentage through 61 games with the Canadians and was named the team’s MVP.
I know what you’re thinking: I’m repeating myself. But Jeff said he feels he needs his average to rise before moving up to the Kane County Cougars. However, ahead of him at Kane County is former USF shortstop Myron Leslie. The team moved him to third base, same as Baisley, but the rumor mill is turning that Leslie may move to first base this season.
Baisley, on the other, trained in Tampa over the summer and for the past month has been working with his dad, Calvin, and his former high school team, Land O’ Lakes.
— Bottom of the sixth inning, Bulls still down 1-0. Freshman shortstop Addison Maruszak is 2-for-3 and winning me the press box game: Pick to Click, Pick to Clunk.
— Also, new at the baseball game is a target out in right field with the Bulls’ iconic ‘U’ in the middle. If a batter — probably needs to be a left-handed batter — hits the target, the average attendance of 200-300 people at the baseball game each receives a free Sonic burger. Must be a nice new contract for the Athletic Department with Sonic. They were willing to give the burgers away at the men’s basketball game against Connecticut on March 1, even though the contestant didn’t make the three-point shot, but with the position of the target at Red McEwen Field, the home run shot needs to be laser-guided to hit a target about the size of a basketball backboard. Not to mention it sits right next to the foul pole.
Honestly, I promise, from here on out, Tony and I won’t make fun of anymore contests the Athletic Department concocts.
Seriously, we promise. Unless a new contest involves singing, then the gloves come off.
— Update time: Bulls take the lead as designated hitter Brad Karns drove in the go-ahead run on an RBI single, after a bloop single by second baseman Nick Cardieri brought Maruszak home for the first run. Top of the seventh, Bull 2, Illinois 1.
— Game is moving faster than I can type. The Illini took a 3-2 lead on a sac fly by Kyle Hudson that brought home Dominic Altobelli after his RBI triple, which tied the game.
— Well, that’s it until after the game. And FYI, I wasn’t present for the men’s basketball team’s first Big East win last night. A rare night off for the sports editor. When Tony called me, I could hear the electricity — can you actually do that? — over the phone. Amazingly enough, I missed the upset over Charlotte last season as well. Managing Editor John Calkins and I were at the women’s C-USA tournament covering the Bulls. In retrospect, I’ve seen many more wins for the women than I have for the men.
I think I’m bad luck. Maybe I should start skipping the games.
Mike Camunas
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