Nov. 16, 2004
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.--Illinois Coach Richard "Itch" Jones announced the signing of six student-athletes to national letters of intent Tuesday afternoon. Dominic Altobelli, an infielder from Oak Forest, Ill., Lars Davis, a catcher from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Kevyn Feiner, a shortstop from Sun Prairie, Wis., Aaron Martin, a right-handed pitcher from Georgetown, Ill., Ben Reeser, a right-handed pitcher from Bloomington, Ill. and Tanner Roark, a right-handed pitcher from Wilmington, Ill. make up the 2005 signing class.
"We feel very good about these players," said Jones of the newest Illini signing class. "They were highly sought-after by a lot of different schools, but they committed to us early because I think they're really excited about the program and the opportunities they'll have to play and to fit in well, not only on the field, but in the clubhouse and in the classroom as well."
"Academically, they're all very solid students," Jones continued. "We feel very good about these players fitting in and being able to contribute early in their careers. We feel that will help solidify the shortcomings we'll have after guys graduate."
Biographical sketches of the 2004-05 Illinois baseball signees:
Dominic Altobelli, IF
6-1, 170 • R/R • Marist HS, Oak Forest, Ill.
Notes: Won two varsity baseball letters as the starting shortstop for Marist H.S. • Batted over .450 in a summer wooden bat league in 2004 • Named to the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference team in 2004 • Has potential to have an impact as a freshman because of his strong arm and leadership abilities • His father, Mike, played in the Oakland A's organization for three years, making it to the big leagues in 1981 and playing under manager Billy Martin.
Coach Jones on Altobelli: "Dominic is a true shortstop, but we think he can play any position in the infield. He is another classy, hard-working student athlete. He's an infielder with a strong throwing arm and, as he develops maturity-wise and strength-wise, he's going to be a very good impact player for Illinois. I like his leadership abilities and I think he's also going to make an impact as a first-year player."
Lars Davis, C
6-3, 205 • L/R • Lethbridge College, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Notes: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 49th round of the 2003 MLB draft • Left-handed hitter who drove in 22 runs and scored 21 in 2004 for the Prairie Baseball Academy at Lethbridge College • Batted .280 with 22 RBI using wooden bats at PBA • Stole 16 bases in 18 attempts in 2004 • Projected as a middle-of-the-order hitter when he switches to metal bats at Illinois • Was named to the Team Alberta in 2003 • Has an above-average professional arm as a catcher • Named to the All-Provincial volleyball team in high school • Graduated early from Lethbridge • He will have three years of eligibility at Illinois.
Coach Jones on Davis: "Lars Davis comes to us from Canada. He's 6'3", 200 pounds, can catch and throw with ease. He's a left-handed hitter seen as a middle-of-the-order type of guy. He's always swung a wooden bat, so it'll be interesting to see what he can do with an aluminum bat. Lars is a great athlete and will be an impact player from day one at Illinois."
Kevyn Feiner, IF
6-0, 165 • R/R • Sun Prairie HS, Sun Prairie, Wis.
Notes: Led Sun Prairie H.S. to the Big Eight Conference title in 2004 • Named to the All-Big Eight Conference team as a utility player in 2004 • Hit .308 in 2004 and .328 in 2003 • Also excelled as a pitcher for Sun Prairie, leading the team with six wins while posting a 2.08 ERA and striking out 42 in 40.1 innings in 2004• Lettered in baseball and football two years apiece • Named All-Big Eight first team quarterback in 2004 • Threw for 1,385 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 588 yards and eight touchdowns in 2004 • Brothers Kasey and Korey each played collegiate baseball, Kasey at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Korey at Wisconsin-Oshkosh • Korey was signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2004 as a catcher.
Coach Jones on Feiner: "Kevin is another shortstop who we think he can play any position in the infield. He's well balanced, very athletic. He runs well and he's a very good fielder with good arm strength. As a hitter he can use all fields. The thing we really like about him is he's a high-energy player. He's very enthusiastic, very supportive and has great leadership qualities."
Aaron Martin, RHP
6-0, 185 • R/R • Georgetown-Ridge Farm HS, Georgetown, Ill.
Notes: Finished the 2004 season 6-3 with a 1.81 ERA in 65.2 innings • Struck out 83 and walked only 25, while holding opponents to a .215 batting average • Hit .476 in 2004 with 39 RBI, 47 runs, 24 stolen bases and a .660 slugging percentage • Named to the News-Gazette All-Area team in 2004 • Named to the All-Illini Central Conference and All-Vermilion County first teams in 2003 and 2004 • Named All-Vermilion County as a freshman pitcher in 2002 • Was a four-sport letter-winner at Georgetown-Ridge Farm H.S., lettering in baseball, basketball, soccer and football • Reached the finals of the Country Insurance Three-Point Showdown in 2003 • Helped the Danville Speakers American Legion Post 210 team to a second-place finish in 2003 • Lists his biggest sports thrill as throwing a no-hitter in summer league baseball.
Coach Jones on Martin: "Aaron Martin is one of our new local players. He's a powerful right-handed pitcher who has a lot of strikeouts in his career. He throws in the mid to high-80s and has a very good curveball. He probably has as good a curveball as anybody on our staff right now. Aaron is a guy who will fit in very well in the clubhouse and bring a new look to our staff.
Ben Reeser, RHP
6-3, 180 • R/R • Normal University HS, Bloomington, Ill.
Notes: Struck out 97 and walked only 10 in 86 innings for University H.S. in 2004 • Finished the 2004 season with an 8-4 records a 1.38 ERA and three saves • Four-year letterwinner in cross country and baseball, and three-year basketball letterwinner • Named All-Corn Belt Conference in baseball in 2003 and 2004 • Started the Jack Kaiser All-Star Game in 2004, which features the top Illinois senior baseball players • Helped Bloomington-Normal's American Legion team to third in the state in 2004 • Named All-Corn Belt Conference in cross country in 2003 and 2004 • Qualified for the IHSA state cross country meet 2002-04 • Has a personal-best three-mile time of 15:59.
Coach Jones on Reeser: "Ben Reeser is a right-handed pitcher who is very impressive because he'll throw around 90 early in the game, dip down to the mid-80s in the middle innings and then, with the game on the line late, he can dig down and get that velocity back up to the high 80s. He has a great feel for closing the door and getting the win when he's in that situation."
Tanner Roark, RHP
6-2, 190 • R/R • Wilmington HS, Wilmington, Ill.
Notes: Helped lead Wilmington H.S. to the IHSA state championship in 2003 and a third-place finish in 2004 • Named MVP of the state tournament in 2003 and named to the IHSA All-Tournament team in 2004 • Named an All-State pitcher in 2003-04 • The Chicago Tribune listed him as a top baseball prospect and named him to the Suburban All-Area Team in 2004 • Pitched five perfect innings in a combined perfect game in the 2004 Danville Supersectional • Finished the 2004 season 17-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 83.1 innings pitched • Struck out 123 while walking only 27 in 2004 • Also hit .496 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts in 2004 • Three-year starter on the football team as a quarterback and free safety • Led Wilmington to a second-place finish in class 3A in 2003 and a 3A quarterfinal appearance in 2004 • Named All-State quarterback in 2004 • Named All-Area and All-Interstate 8 Conference in 2003 and 2004.
Coach Jones on Roark: "Tanner is very competitive, very athletic and is a tremendous student. Velocity-wise he's an upper-80s guy who goes right after hitters and competes. We look forward to having him jump to the next level. With his size and frame and his continued work habits, he's going to be a real good player for Illinois."
