Nov. 22, 2014
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BOCA CHICA, D.R. - The University of Illinois baseball team landed safely in the Dominican Republic after a long day of travel on Saturday. The entire Illini team and staff departed from Illinois Field in Champaign at 1:30 a.m. and arrived in Boca Chica around 4:30 p.m. local time following a 13-plus hour travel day. The players, coaches and staff are ready for a full week of baseball, sightseeing and giving back.
With a steady rain coming down in Champaign, we loaded up the bus and drove to O'Hare International Airport for a 6 a.m. flight to Miami. With a very early start to the day, it was a quiet ride for the first leg of the trip. Our first flight left as scheduled with all of our luggage and baseball glove donations on board. After a three-hour layover and slight delay in Miami, our journey reached the Caribbean island at the Santo Domingo Airport.
We were greeted by the Dominican Baseball Camp staff who ushered us to our bus at the airport. The rules of the road from the United States don't seem to apply here based on our first drive. Following an adventurous bus ride, we made it to the Dominican Bay Resort where we will be staying for the week. After dinner and a team meeting, the Illini were able to explore the hotel and settle in for the night.
Our first game will be at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday against the Dominican Air Force. Follow @IlliniBaseball on Twitter for daily updates throughout our stay in the Dominican Republic.
