Adam Bunnell of Salem was honored this past weekend at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Itchy Jones Stadium on Senior Day.
Adam was a 2016 graduate of Salem Community High School. After graduation, he played for Kaskaskia Blue Devils baseball team and graduated in 2018. That summer, he was invited to pitch in the Northwood League, Great Lakes Division for the Green Bay Bullfrogs as a reliver and closer. In the fall of 2019, Adam attended and played for the McKendree University Bearcats as their mid-reliever and closer.
In the summer of 2019, Adam was invited to play in the Prospect League for the Cape Girardeau Catfish, pitching out of their bullpen. Steve Larkin, brother of Barry Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds was the Head Coach while the General Manager was Mark Hogan, retired head coach for SEMO. The Catfish ended with a 43-17 record, which tied the record for most wins ever in the Prospect League.
Bunnell then moved on to Missouri Valley Conference in the fall of 2019 playing for the Southern Illinois University Salukis as a relief pitcher. His pitching coach is retired Missouri University Head Coach Tim Jameson. As Covid cancelled the 2020 spring baseball season, all the Seniors returned for the 2021 season and provided SIU-C with a regular season record of 38-18, the most wins since 1991.
Bunnell graduates as a Division 1 student athlete having made the Dean’s list with high honors 3 of the last 4 semesters. The team earned a 3.652 GPA, highest of all the SIU men’s sports.
Bunnell plans on returning in the fall of 2021 to earn a 2 nd degree in Finance. He is the son of John Bunnell of Salem and Wendy Bunnell of Flora.
SIU-C will host the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament which starts Tuesday. The Dawgs are the #4th seed in the tournament and will play #3 seed Bradley, Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.
