Western Courier

Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File Photo Reigning Mid-Con Player of the Year Travis Check signed a professional contract with the Windy City Thunderbolts earlier this month.

Former Western Illinois baseball standout Travis Check signed a professional contract with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League.

Check, who was named the Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year in 2007 and was captain of the Leatherneck team, signed as a third basemen with the Thunderbolts earlier this month. Check has appeared in two games with Windy City so far this season. The Thunderbolts are currently in first place in the Central Division.

"We are all proud of (Check) and are thrilled that he is getting the opportunity to play at the next level," said Leatherneck baseball coach Stan Hyman. "No one has worked harder than (him) to play pro ball and I'm confident that he will successfully make the transition. He played against some of the top players and teams in Division I for two years. Combine that with his ability and dedication to the game, (Check) will continue to pursue his dream for years to come."

Check received the first Mid-Con Player of the Year award given to a Leatherneck since 1990. The LaCrosse, Wis., native led the conference in total bases (106), was second in RBIs (49) and was third in slugging percentage (.522) and runs scored (53). He was also fourth in stolen bases (17) and fifth in home runs (8).

Check, who was drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played junior college ball in Texas prior to playing at Western, posted a .345 average in two seasons as a Leatherneck.

In 2007, Check scored 55 runs, which put him in second place at Western for runs in a single season. He also ranks eighth on the list for RBIs in a season with 49 last year. In his two seasons at Western, he registered two Top 10 seasons in both hits and total bases.

-Western Illinois University
Athletics Media Services

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