Preview Interviews: Coach Hartleb | Casey Fletcher | Kelly Norris-Jones

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team will head to the Dominican Republic on Saturday, Nov. 22, for a weeklong foreign tour in the Caribbean nation. The Fighting Illini will play eight exhibition games during their time in Boca Chica along with participating in educational, cultural and community service activities on the trip. The team also will distribute over 200 baseball gloves to the youth on the island thanks to the generous donations made by the Champaign-Urbana community.

"We are extremely excited about the opportunity to take our team to the Dominican Republic," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "It is a trip that will help us grow as a team both on and off the field. We will play eight games against quality opponents, but what I am most excited about is the educational portion of the trip. It will be an important learning experience to see the culture, work ethic and desire displayed by the people in the Dominican."

Illinois will play its first contest on Sunday (Nov. 23) against the Dominican Air Force team, which is a member of the Dominican Military League. Monday (Nov. 24) will feature a split-squad game against the the New York Yankees Dominican Instructional League (DIL) team. The DIL is a fall league composed of Latin players from the Rookie and Class-A levels of a MLB team's minor league system.

The Illini will take on the Houston Astros DIL team in a split-squad game on Tuesday (Nov. 25) morning before visiting an orphanage in San Pedro in the afternoon. The Illini will deliver baseball gloves to the kids at the orphanage and participate in recreation time with them.

"We have had a tremendous outpouring of support of new and used baseball gloves from the Champaign-Urbana community and surrounding areas," Hartleb said. "We will be able to give those gloves to children who have very little in the Dominican. It will be heartwarming to hand those out during the week of Thanksgiving. I can't thank the people of this area enough for helping make a child's life a little brighter and give them a reason to smile."

Wednesday (Nov. 26) will be a day off from baseball with a catamaran tour scheduled. The Illini will travel to Bayahibe beach where they will take a catamaran ride to Isla Saona for music and dance lessons. The team also will sample native food and play games on the beach along with taking a speedboat ride to a sandbar.

On Thursday (Nov. 27), the Orange and Blue will square off against the Tigres del Licey Reserve Squad of the Dominican Winter League, which consists of players at the Class-A level and above.

Illinois will have a full day of activities on Friday (Nov. 28), its final day on the island. In the morning, the Illini will play split-squad games against the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox DIL teams. In the afternoon, the team will take a guided tour of the Colonial Zone, which is a small town nestled in the capital city, Santo Domingo, and the oldest constantly inhabited city in all of "The Americas." On Friday night, the Illini will watch a Dominican Winter League game to cap off the week.

The trip, which is being funded through the generous support of the Fighting Illini Dugout Club, will take place during the University of Illinois' Thanksgiving break week. NCAA regulations allow teams to make foreign trips once every four years and this will be Illinois' first one taken in the modern era. The Illini will return to Champaign on Saturday, Nov. 29.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TRIP ITINERARY

Saturday, Nov. 22
Depart from Champaign
Arrive in Boca Chica, D.R.

Sunday, Nov. 23
Game vs. Dominican Air Force Team

Monday, Nov. 24
Split-squad game vs. New York Yankees DIL Team

Tuesday, Nov. 25
Split-squad game vs. Houston Astros DIL Team
Visit orphanage in San Pedro

Wednesday, Nov. 26
OFF DAY - Catamaran Trip to Isla Saona

Thursday, Nov. 27
Game vs. Tigres del Licey Reserve Squad of the Dominican Winter League

Friday, Nov. 28
Split-squad games vs. Baltimore Orioles/Chicago White Sox DIL Team
Guided tour of Colonial Zone
Watch Dominican Winter League game

Saturday, Nov. 29
Depart Boca Chica, D.R.
Return to Champaign