March 9, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
As most collegiate baseball teams are traveling to warm, vacation destinations to play games over their spring breaks, the Illinois State baseball team is actually traveling north to Minnesota to compete against three teams in the HHH Metrodome Tournament hosted by Minnesota beginning Friday in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Redbirds will face the Ball State Cardinals in Friday's match-up schedule for 1:00 p.m. and will then face the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday, with the first pitch also scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The `Birds will wrap up the weekend with the host Golden Gophers on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is home to Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins, but also serves as the home ballpark for the Golden Gophers. ISU head coach Jim Brownlee is excited about the upcoming games at the Metrodome.
"This (spring break) trip is a lot different than in the years past because we're going north instead of south," said Brownlee. "But, the players will get a chance to play some good teams in a major league ballpark in Minnesota and have the chance to improve on the tough start with some good wins. This trip should be a lot of fun and we should learn a lot about how we are progressing as a team in this non-conference schedule are after the weekend."
ISU's two freshman starting pitchers, right-handers Ian Berger (1-1) and Jim Sajewich (0-0), will be the starters for Friday's and Saturday's games, respectively. Sunday's starter against Minnesota will be announced sometime during the weekend.
Fans can follow this weekend's action by watching live stats on the Internet through GameTracker on the Illinois State website at GoRedbirds.com. Simply click on the baseball page and go to the baseball schedule link to find the appropriate game's link to GameTracker. This weekend's games can also be heard as radio broadcasts on the Internet. GoRedbirds.com through the MULTIMEDIA link on the homepage or at www.wjbc2.com, with Nick Reeser calling the action.
