When it comes to Big Ten pitchers, it doesn’t get much better than Minnesota’s Tom Windle. A first-team All-Big Ten honoree, the southpaw led the Big Ten in strikeouts and twirled the conference’s lone solo no-hitter. What makes Windle so tough to hit? “I’m confident that I can get every batter out,” he told BTN.

Baseball players don’t forget when an opponent robs them of a potential base hit. And nothing makes them happier than returning the favor. The opportunity doesn’t always present itself, but it did in the first game of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday. Three innings after Illinois’ Thomas Lindauer made a diving grab to retire Minnesota’s Connor Schaefbauer (video above), the latter got revenge in the eighth inning. Both catches were nice, but which was better?

Nebraska product and longtime Minnesota baseball assistant Todd Oakes was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia nearly a year ago. But that won’t keep him from doing what he loves most: coaching baseball. Oakes, in his 15th season with the Gophers, continues to serve as Minnesota’s pitching coach. The uninformed fan wouldn’t even know about Oakes’ illness – if it weren’t for the surgical mask around his face.

The Big Ten announced Tuesday its 2013 All-Big Ten teams and individual award winners. Big Ten champion Indiana was well represented, as it took home Pitcher of the Year (Aaron Slegers) and Coach of the Year (Tracy Smith). Illinois’ Justin Parr was named Player of the Year and Kevin Duchene earned Freshman of the Year honors. See the teams in this post.