Posted Wednesday, May 3, 2006, The OG, sports

Led by freshman pitcher Alan Kessler, Uni won its third conference game of the season as the host Illineks downed Decatur Christian 15-5 in varsity action Tuesday in Rantoul.

Kessler pitched a complete game to record his second win this year against the visitors; on April 13 Kessler shut out the Warriors 14-0.

The win raises Uni's East Central Illinois Conference record to 3-2. Overall the team is 4-9 against varsity and JV foes combined and 3-6 against varsity opponents.

Tuesday's game was called after five innings due to the 10-run-lead mercy rule. Sophomore Mike Renner came just short of hitting a grand slam off the top of the fence, but instead only one run scored because the high fly ball threw off Uni's base runners.

The Illineks are scheduled to host St. Joseph-Ogden's JV at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus field in Rantoul.

To get to Uni's home field:

1. Turn off I-57 at the Rantoul exit.
2. Go east toward Rantoul.
3. Turn left (north) on Route 45 (Century Boulevard).
4. Go past St. Malachy's Catholic Church and turn left (north) on Cambell Street.
5. Cross the railroad tracks and turn north (right) on Ohio Street (first street after the tracks).
6. Follow Ohio Street north about one-eighth of a mile. The field will be on your right.

Check the Illineks' home page for a complete schedule of 2006 games.

In the Class A playoffs, Uni will compete in the 24-team Tolono (Unity) sectional. The Illineks are seeded 24th.

Uni will begin postseason action on May 16 in the Farmer City (Blue Ridge) regional. The team will visit 11th-seeded Fisher in a first-round game. Fisher defeated Uni 7-0 on April 8.

— Gargoyle staff

2006 RECORD
4-9 overall (varsity & JV foes combined), 3-6 varsity, 3-2 East Central Illinois Conference

• March 28 — at Urbana JV: L 10-5
• March 30 — at St. Thomas More: L 20-3
• April 1 — East Central: L 9-2
• April 5 — at Champaign Central JV: L 12-5
• April 8 — at Fisher: L 7-0
• April 11 — Judah Christian (ECIC): L 7-5
• April 13 — at Decatur Christian (ECIC): W 14-0
• April 17 — at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley JV: L 6-3
• April 20 — East Central: L 17-8
• April 22 — at Paxton-Buckley-Loda JV: W 15-14
• April 27 — at Judah Christian (ECIC): L 5-2
• April 28 — at Buckley Christ Lutheran (ECIC): W 8-4
• May 2 — Decatur Christian (ECIC): W 15-5