Friday, February 27, 2009

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Dan Kaczrowski (Dans 2008), last year's CICL MVP, ignited the Hamline University Pipers going 7 for 9, with a lead-off double, a 3 run home run, and 6 RBI's in the team's opening double header.

Ryan Schimpf (Dans 2007), has added to his SEC Player of the Week honors, LSU Student-Athlete of the week. The junior 2nd baseman finished last weekend with 2 doubles, one home run, six RBI and 3 runs scored. He also walked 4 times, stole 4 bases and record a .786 on-base percentage and 1.200 slugging.

Zach Walters (Dans 2008),helped lead the San Diego Torreos to a win over #16 Oklahoma Wednesday going 3-5 with 1 RBI. Dans alum, James Meador, also contributed to the win with a 2-run double to right center.

Matt Bywater, in his first 09 start, led the Pepperdine Waves to a win over Southern Cal, allowing just 1 hit in 6 innings of work. Matt walked just 2 batter and struck out 10. Head coach Steve Rodriguea noted, "That was probably one of the most impressive starts I've seen Matt have here in his short career." While with the Dans, Matt sported a 2.52 ERA in 53.2 innings of work. He had 30 walks and 53 strikeouts.

Monday, February 23, 2009

DANS SHINE ON OPENING WEEKEND


College baseball has begun, so rumors are true, there will be a spring! #1 ranked LSU swept Villanova this weekend. Dans alum, Ryan Schimpf (Dans 2007) finished the series 7-for-10 with six RBI and four stolen bases. In the final game, he homered to lift top-ranked LSU to a 6-3 victory. Head coach Paul Mainieri said of Schimpf, ”No one on our team works harder than he does and no one is more of a team player the him. I normally don’t call him spectacular, but that home run he hit was pretty spectacular.” LSU starter Austin Ross (Dans 2008) worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th inning to finish the game, allowing only one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

In Pepperdine’s win over Cal State Northridge on Sunday, 2 Dans played a major defensive role. With a go-ahead runner on third, the Waves 1st baseman collected a routine grounder, tagged the bag, and whipped a throw to catcher Trent Diedrich (Dans 2007) who tagged out the runner attempting to score from third for a double play. Diedrich also drove in the game’s first run with a 2-out double. Tyler Hess came in, in the 6th inning. With the score tied 1-1, a runner at 3rd, and 1 out, the runner was left stranded by Hess following back-to-back strikeouts.

From Mississippi State, who finished the weekend 3-0, Jet Butler (Dans 2007), hit a walk-off, three-run home run, lifting the Bulldog to a 9-7 win over North Florida.

Free live game stats are available over the internet on each team’s college baseball site.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

DAN NAMED PRE-SEASON ALL-STAR

Former Danville Dan (2007) Ryan Schimpf, a Covington, La. native, has been named Pre-Season All American by Baseball America and Rivals.com.

Last season Schimpf batted .320 (80-for-250) for the LSU Tigers last season with 18 doubles, an SEC-best seven triples, 12 homers and 54 RBI. He batted a sizzling .419 (18-for-43) in LSU’s 13 postseason games with seven doubles, two triples, two homers, 15 RBI and 11 runs.

Ryan was LSU’s leading hitter in the 08’ NCAA Super Regional, batting .615 (8-for-13) with four doubles, one triple, two homers, six RBI and three runs. He was 4-for-5with two homers, two doubles and a career-best five RBI in the Super Regional championship game.

Schimpf was named to NCAA Baton Rouge Regional all-tournament team, and he was voted to the SEC All-Tournament Team. He was also named SEC Player of the Week May 12, as he batted.545 (6-for-11) in the Mississippi State series with one double, three homers, seven RBI and seven runs scored.

While playing with the Dans, Schimpf was selected a CICL All-Star.

DANS PRE-SEASON HONORS CONTINUE TO MOUNT

Forty players have been named by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to their pre-season Stopper of the Year Award list. Among those forty players are former Danville Dans, A.J. Griffin (2007-University of San Diego) and Louis Coleman (2006-LSU), who both add this honor to many others.

Nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information/media relation contacts all over the country and will be up-dated mid season (April 16) to include the season's national saves leaders. The Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists just prior to the start of NCAA regional tournament play on May 27. The 2009 Stopper of the Year will be announced the week of June 1.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dans Alum Named to Preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List

USA Baseball has announced its preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, marking the organization's first step toward identifying the top player in college baseball. Highlighting this list is former Danville Dan ace closer, A.J. Griffin (Dans 2007-University of San Diego). This watch list features 50 of the nation's top collegiate baseball talents. it will be a "rolling" list that allows players to play themselves into consideration for the Golden Spikes Award.

Griffin, a 2008 first-team All-West Coast Conference selection, a 2008 Louisville Slugger All-American and a Team USA member, posted an overall record of 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA and set the school record for single-season saves with 14 a year ago while helping lead the Toreros to their second consecutive West Coast Conference championship and its third straight trip to the NCAA Regionals. With the 14 saves, Griffin became the all-time leader in career saves at USD with 25.

While playing with the Dans, A.J.sported a 2.61 ERA and in that effort struck out 43 batters in 31 innings. He led the team in both wins and saves.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

FORMER DANS HONORED

Last week, Jim Hendry (Chicago Cubs general manager) was the keynote speaker for the LSU's First Pitch Banquet, which honored the 2000 National Championship baseball team. Two of Hendry's Chicago Cubs, Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot, were part of that team, along with 7 former Danville Dans. On the LSU web site (www.lsusports.net) you will find a video (on the baseball page) from that evening. Kurt Ainsworth (Dans 1997) is a feature interview. Kurt played on a Championship Olympic Team coached by Tommy Lasorda. He was drafted in the first round by the San Francisco Giants and played with the major league team before injuries cut short his career. Ainsworth's brother Keven (Dans 1994) also played with the Dans. Other Dans alumni as members of the championship squad were Billy Brian, Chucky Son, Trey McClure, Jeff Lipari, Cedric Harris, and Blair Barbier.