Nov. 19, 2003

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois Baseball team has signed four student-athletes to national letters of intent, Head Coach Richard 'Itch' Jones announced today. Illinois welcomes a class that includes three high school seniors and a junior college sophomore, all of whom will join the Illini program next fall. The group is made up of three pitchers and one infielder.

The class includes infielder Joe Bonadonna (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson), lefthander Blake Hopkins (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell), righthander Scott Shaw (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and righthander Matt Whitmore (Evansville, Ind./Central/John A. Logan C.C.).

"As a program we're very excited to welcome this class to Illinois," Jones said. "We look to this group as one with the ability to fill vacancies we have on the team, and we look forward to them coming in and contributing to Illinois Baseball."

Joe Bonadonna IF *5-7 * 140 * R/R * Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson Played shortstop for Stevenson's conference and regional championship team in 2003 *Also started on the varsity in 2002 * Holds the Stevenson school records for assists in a career (170) and in a single season (91) *Quick (6.6 60) athlete who will be counted on for his contact hitting and on base percentage *A high school shortstop with a strong arm who projects as a college shortstop or second baseman.

Blake Hopkins LHP * 6-0 *185 * R/L * St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell High school team won 2003 Missouri state championship *Threw for Midwest Prospects over the summer *Posted a 7-1 record over the summer with an ERA under 3.00 * Averaged over a strikeout an inning for the Prospects *Fastball has been clocked in the 88-89mph range *Also features a 70-72mph curve with rotation and a changeup.

Scott Shaw RHP * 6-4 * 215 * R/R * Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township As a junior and the No. 1 starter for Warren Township, went 8-4 with a 2.64 ERA in the spring of 2003 *Struck out 82 in 71 2/3 innings of work * Lettered for the varsity team as both a sophomore (as the team's starting catcher) and junior *Earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore and was all-conference and all-region as a junior *Participated in the North Suburban All-Star game as a junior *Best pitch is his fastball, and he also features a sharply breaking curve *Also a varsity letterman in golf and basketball.

Matt Whitmore RHP * 5-11 *165 * R/R * Evansville, Ind./Central/John A. Logan C.C. Posted a 9-2 record and 2.23 ERA for John A. Logan C.C. last season *Started 11 games, completing four last spring for Logan * Struck out 69 in 64 2/3 innings of work *Features a fastball, curve and change-up *Fastball has been clocked in the 87-90mph range *Logan teammate of current Illini outfielder Ryan Rogowski.