TWINS PROMOTE TOLBERT TO 40-MAN ROSTER

The Minnesota Twins added Matt Tolbert (Dans 2001 - Ole' Miss) to their 40-man roster on Tuesday. Tolbert, 25, batted .293 with 24 doubles and seven triples in 121games for Rochester last season. The infielder was also selected as the Twin's representative for the 2007 MBL Futures game and also participated in the Triple-A-All Star Game. Drafted in the 16th round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft, Matt has a career .280 average in four Minor League seasons. Seven players from the 34-16-0 Dans team have, or are, playing professional baseball. Those include David Coffey (Georgia), Tim Hutting (Long Beach), Nick Conte (St. Mary's), Edgar Varella (Long Beach), Dustin Scheffel (Sac City), Jon Papelbon (Mississippi State - Boston Red Sox) and Eric Stultz (Bethel College - Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2001 Dans were coached by Bill Ferrari.

TWO MORE DANS REPORT TO BIG LEAGUE CAMP

Randy Ruiz (Dans 1999) and Jon Knott (Dans 1999)have been invited to Spring Training with the Minnesota Twins, bringing the number of Dans participating at the Major League Level to seven. The only outfielder invited to the Twins camp, Knott was signed by the Twins as a free agent, Nov. 2007 after seeing time in 7 games last season with the Baltimore Orioles. Jon was first called up by the San Diego Padres. Ruiz also signed with the Twins organization in Nov. of 2007.

DETROIT GIVES WORTH A LOOK

Danny Worth (Dans 2005 – Pepperdine University) has been invited, by the Detroit Tigers, to participate in the team’s major league camp during the 2008 spring training season. Coached by Jamie Sailors (now assistant coach at Purdue), Danny was a member a Dans’ team that finished the regular season 34-10, 5 games ahead of the pack. Six players from that team are currently playing professional baseball at the minor league level: Justin Snyder (San Diego-Yankees), Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State- Texas Rangers), Dan Sattler (Purdue-Texas Rangers), Wes Roemer (Cal State Fullerton-Az Diamondbacks) and J.P. Powell (Southern IL- Houston Astros).

Bradford named Assistant Coach

Josh Bradford (Dans pitching coach 2003) has been named Assistant Coach at the University of Toledo, leaving his assistant position at the University of West Georgia to take the assignment. He will serve as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Rockets.

As a player, Bradford spent four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays organization reaching Triple A. During his stint with the Dans, he helped guide the team to a league championship with a league record 1.78 ERA.

A native of Hutchinson,KS, he finished his bachelor's degree in Physical Education at Kentucky Wesleyan. He is married to Tandy Bradford. The couple have a son, Blake (4).

COACHES CORNER…..

Over twenty coaches, who have come through the Dans’ system as players or coaches, have found careers in the coaching ranks.

MIKE HUTCHEON was the 1st head coach of the Danville Dans (1989-1993). He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under college baseball coaching legend Ron Polk at Mississippi State. “Hutch” is currently head baseball coach of the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcon baseball team. A native of Gunnison, Co., Mike is married to Laura, his wife of 18 years. The couple are parents of four children; two daughters, Manie (17), and Mary Garland (Gigi – 9), and two sons, Dane (13) and Hal (7).

XAN BARKSDALE (Dans 2002) is beginning his 2nd season as a Louisville Cardinal assistant coach, having helped guide the club to an NCAA World Series run last season. His primary responsibilities are hitters and catchers. Barksdale joined the Cardinal staff after spending 3 seasons in the Atlanta Braves system. He received his bachelor’s degree in marketing, with a minor in math, while playing baseball at Ole' Miss under current Cardinal Head Coach, Dan McDonnell, a Rebel assistant at the time. Xan’s hometown is Madison, Mississippi.

DANS ANNOUNCE PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE 08'

Home Games Only

All games 6:30 PM unless noted

Date, Day, Opponent

June 6, Friday, Springfield Sliders
June 10, Tuesday, Quincy Gems
June 11, Wednesday, Springfield Sliders
June 12, Thursday, Dubois Bombers
June 13, Friday, Quincy Gems
June 17, Tuesday, Springfield Sliders
June 24, Tuesday, Dubois Bombers
June 25, Wednesday, Dubois Bombers
June 28, Saturday, Springfield Sliders
July 2, Wednesday, Dubois Bombers
July 5, Saturday, Dupage Dragons
July 9, Wednesday, Quincy Gems
July 10, Thursday, Dupage Dragons
July 16, Wednesday, Springfield Sliders
July 17, Thursday, Dupage Dragons
July 19, Saturday, Dubois Bombers
July 24, Thursday, Dupage Dragons
July 26, Saturday, Dupage Dragons
July 29, Tuesday, Quincy Gems
July 30, Wednesday, Quincy Gems
July 31, Thursday, Dupage Dragons
August 1, Friday,Springfield Sliders
August 5, Tuesday, Dubois Bombers
August 8, Friday, Quincy Gems
August 12-14 (15th rain day), Tournament location tba

DAN HEADS TO SPRING TRAINING

Chris Coghlan (Danville Dans, 2004) has been invited to attend spring training with the Florida Marlins. Chris was named in December a top 10 prospect in the Florida Marlins system by Baseball America (Dec. 19).

DANS GIVE NOD TO COACHING STAFF

In his 2nd season managing the Danville Dans, Pete Paciorek will be joined in 2008 by Mack Paciorek and Joe Verplancke.

After playing professional baseball in the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers’ organizations for 9 years, Pete began his coaching career at Whittier College before moving to Cal State-Los Angeles, where he helped lead the team to the best overall record in school history. A San Gabriel, CA native, Pete earned his B.A. in Communications from Cal State LA as well as his Master’s in Organizational Communication and Leadership. He is currently the Head Coach at Principia College. Pete and his wife Sarah reside in Elsah, Il.

Mack, brother of manager Pete Paciorek, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as an infielder and played professional ball for four years. He is currently Head Coach at San Marino High School in Southern California. He also works with various colleges providing professional infield instruction. Paciorek and his wife Keri have one son (Luke) and reside in Pomona, Ca.

Joe Verplancke attended Cal State LA where he was a two sport athlete (soccer and baseball) and was drafted as a pitcher after his junior year by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 8th round. He was a member of the 1997 High Desert Mavericks (California League) Championship Team. Joe and his wife Erin reside in Corona, CA where Joe is a teacher and Head Baseball Coach at Diamond Ranch High School.

The Dans coaching staff brings a combined 18 years of professional baseball knowledge to the Dans.

SLIDERS JOIN CICL FOR 2008 SEASON

The Danville Dans will be adding the Springfield Sliders to their schedule this summer as a new team joins the CICL. Co-owner, Jesse Boulder, made the announcement this week during the leagues annual meeting held in Philadelphia. The Sliders will play at Lanphier Park and will be coached by Dylan Putnam.

DANS CONTINUE TO GARNER HONORS

Aaron Weatherford (Dans 2006/Mississippi State) has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-America Team (2nd Team) adding to his Wallace List selection.

Kiel Rolling (Dans 2006/Arizona State) has added to his list of honors earning 1st Team All-Pac-10 honors and 1st Team All-American honors from the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association, to go along with his 2nd Team All-America NCBWA award (see November blog).

The All-America squads consist of 39 players from 19 different conferences. A complete list can be seen at http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/