MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois baseball team held its annual alumni weekend on Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October 7.

"I want to personally thank everyone for making this a special weekend for our program." said head coach Ryan Brownlee, "It started when Mike McCormick spoke to the team.  His message of focusing and enjoying the college baseball experience sunk in with our guys." 

The successful weekend continued on Saturday with a golf outing, which took place at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb.

"Saturday's golf outing with parents, friends, the Chick's guys and alumni (Shane Johnston, Matt Wahrenburg, Matt Newquist, Quinn Leath, Chris Mayer, Brock Bainter, Brian Quinn, Rich Mascheri, Phil Tolman, Matt Igara, Dan Russell, Tom Lilja and Ryan Cowhey) made for a great day." continued Brownlee, "We capped the day off with prizes and a get together at Buffalo Wild Wings. I want to thank Tony Moenck, the manager at Buffalo Wild Wings, for taking care of us. It was a great way to end the day.  There were a lot of great baseball stories told."

Sunday afternoon featured the Alumni Baseball game. Several Leatherneck Alumni were in attendance and 10 partook in the annual game with the current players.

"I was very happy with the way our guys handled the alumni game," said Brownlee, " I told them before stretching that even though it would be a little more relaxed atmosphere with the alumni playing we still needed to use it as a day to practice and get better.  Our guys had great energy all day long and I do appreciate the alumni that played in the event (Bob Allen, Sam Calderone, Brian Quinn, Dustin Hunter, Rich Mascheri, Phil Tolman, Matt Igara, Dan Russell, Tom Lilja and Ryan Cowhey).  It worked out good for our guys because our pitchers threw to our guys and alumni threw to alumni and we finished with a coach pitch after that. Overall, it was a great weekend and I look forward to sitting down with our staff, comparing notes and coming up with ways to continue to grow this into a great event for our alumni, players, parents and supporters."

The team will now look ahead to their first fall game of the 2012 season. Western takes on Lincoln Land Community College on Sunday, October 14. Game time is set for noon at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.

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