Former Cavaliers pitcher Phil Isaksson passes away

Former Eau Claire Cavaliers and University of Minnesota baseball pitcher Phil Isaksson has passed away after a battle with brain cancer.

According to the Isaksson family CaringBridge site, Phil passed away Sunday morning. He was diagnosed in 2012.

In Eau Claire’s baseball community, Isaksson was known for his wicked curve ball.

“He was a very talented player and probably will
go down as one of the best players in school history,” says North
baseball coach Bob Johnson.

Isaksson also spent the summer of 2009 with the
Eau Claire Cavaliers. He was inducted into the Eau Claire North Athletic
Hall of Fame in 2012.

Isaksson went on to pitch for Minnesota. He was
6-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 57 strikeouts for the Gophers 2010 Big Ten
championship team.

The Minnesota Gophers statement:

“The Gopher
baseball family is saddened by the passing of former pitcher Phil
Isaksson. Isaksson died Sunday morning a few years after receiving a
diagnosis of cancer. He maintained a positive attitude to the end.
Isaksson wore the Maroon & Gold from 2008-11. The left-hander was a
regular in the Gophers’ starting rotation during his junior and senior
seasons. He will be missed.”