The daily pitch from Sports Editor: April 12, 2024
Apr. 12—➜ , powered by Copper Creek Contractors. Read more about the pair in Monday's paper.
➜ . The 29-year-old former Illini left-hander threw two innings in relief, giving up one run on five hits as the Mets cruised past the Braves 16-4 in Atlanta.
➜ 3. Can't say there's nothing to do this weekend in Champaign-Urbana.
The money is due to make to coach his eighth season at Illinois. That number goes up to $4.8 million based on a $500,000 retention bonus if he stays on as the Illini coach through April 30, 2025. Underwood was probably a long-shot candidate for the Kentucky job anyway. But the Wildcats appear to have found their man. Reports surfaced Thursday night of e likely succeeding as the next Kentucky men's basketball coach in Lexington.
➜ . gets the ball for Illinois (17-13) at 6 p.m. Friday against NIU (11-21), with set to start Saturday and on the mound for Sunday's series finale at Illinois Field.
➜ . A three-game series with the Boilermakers (17-18, 5-4 Big Ten) begins at 5 p.m. Friday at Eichelberger Field, with the Illini (15-22, 2-7) needing to start stacking Big Ten wins or miss out on the Big Ten tournament.
➜ . Both Illini track and field teams are in action Saturday at Demirjian Park, with field events starting at 11 a.m. with the discus throw and running events getting underway at noon with the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
➜ the Chicago Cubs and Illinois State Redbirds.
➜ my grandpa Hank Kaiser, Jim Lee Howell and Dan Pfaff.
➜ wasted talent and ability.
