DANS MORELAND (2005) TURNS TIDE FOR RANGERS

Column by EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com


ARLINGTON – In 1996, the last time a team came back from being down two games to none in the World Series, a single at-bat defined the New York Yankees' march to the title.

The Rangers now have an at-bat to match Jim Leyritz's series-changing home run from 1996.

It came from the most unlikely of places: No. 9 hitter Mitch Moreland.

Moreland's second-inning, two-out, three-run homer put the Rangers on top Saturday in what turned out to be a 4-2 win in Game 3 of the World Series. To say it gave the Rangers a lead would be an understatement. To say it gave the Rangers life might be an understatement, too.

"It was the one shot we'd needed," said Jeff Francoeur. "When we've won, we've scored a couple of runs early and given our pitchers room to operate and dominate. All of a sudden, we had that."

Francoeur knows just how important the at-bat was. He had made the second out of the inning just moments earlier, failing to get a ball in the air so that Nelson Cruz, who was at third after leading off the inning with a double, could score.

When Moreland came to the plate, the Rangers were in danger of wasting another opportunity. Their Game 1 loss was filled with wasted opportunities. In Game 2, the Rangers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 9-0 loss.

Wasting another opportunity early in Game 3 might have sucked the air out of the largest crowd ever to watch a game in Arlington (52,469) and sapped the fabled resiliency right from this Rangers team.

Moreland made sure it didn't happen.

After San Francisco lefty Jonathan Sanchez pitched around Bengie Molina to get to the left-handed hitting Moreland, the rookie calmly took the first two pitches to get to 2-and-0. But he fouled off a fastball, seemingly missing a great chance to capitalize, then took a second called strike.

Only then did the at-bat really begin. Moreland, whom the Rangers drafted as much for his pitching ability as his bat, dug in, determined to get something up in the strike zone with which to do something. Sanchez was determined not to give him another fastball.

And so the war waged. Moreland fouled off a pair of sliders. Then Sanchez threw successive changeups. Moreland fouled both of those off. It left Sanchez virtually no option but to come back with a fastball. He left it in the hitting zone, and Moreland drove it out of the park, changing the game.

"I knew he was going to pitch me tough," said Moreland, whose repertoire as a left-handed pitcher pretty much mimicked the low 90s fastball, slider, changeup combo that Sanchez threw at him. "I feel like I've had a couple of tough situations, long, drawn-out at-bats, and that helped my confidence."

It would not be a stretch to say Moreland's at-bat may have been the biggest of the 213,498 the Rangers have taken since they moved to Texas in 1972.

It would also not be a stretch to say that when the season began, he would be one of the more unlikely candidates to take such an at-bat.

He was still buried on the organization's depth chart behind golden prospects Justin Smoak and Chris Davis . Even after Smoak was traded and Davis was demoted, Moreland was called up only to be a platoon first baseman to face right-handers while Jorge Cantu faced lefties. The Rangers went into the playoffs with that arrangement.

But Moreland has grinded out at-bats all October while Cantu went hitless. He played better defense than the Rangers expected. And so, after Cantu started the first games against lefties in the AL Division Series and AL Championship Series, manager Ron Washington turned to Moreland for the club's first game against a lefty in the World Series.

The reason is simple.

"We've watched him grow up before our eyes," hitting instructor Clint Hurdle said. "He's a tough kid who has showed up at big times. Tonight, he really battled in a big situation. There he is, your No. 9 hitter, a rookie, playing up in a big moment."

He got the Rangers back into the World Series. It doesn't come much bigger than that.

• • •

MORELAND UPDATE

In last night's Rangers 8-0 win over the Yankees, Mitch (Dans 2005) went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI's. He is batting .500 for the playoff series. GO MITCH!

MORELAND HAS BANNER GAME!

Dans alumni, Mitch Moreland (2005), went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI yesterday as the Texas Rangers defeated the New York Yankees 7-2 in the American League playoffs! Go Mitch!

DANS MORELAND IN PLAYOFFS!

Watch for 1st baseman, Mitch Moreland (Danville Dans 2005), in tonight's American League Division game between his Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The game can be seen locally at TBS at 7:00 PM Central Time. GO MITCH!!!!!!

DANS ALUM NAMED TOP RELIEF PITCHER

2007 Danville Dan, A.J.Griffin (San Diego), has been named the Northwest League's top Right-Handed Relief Pitcher of the Year, amassing a league leading 14 saves in 15 attempts, one shy of the Vancouver Canadians (Oakland A's) single-season record of 15 (Jose Guzman). He was also named to the 2010 Northwest League All-Star team as selected by the 8 managers across the NWL.

CONGRATULATIONS A.J.!

THE DANS ARE IN A RAIN DELAY BEFORE THE START OF THIS AFTERNOON'S TOURNAMENT GAME IN CHILLICOTHE. FOR CURRENT INFORMATION, GO TO vermilioncountyfirst.com then to WDAN sports. GO DANS!

Mitch Moreland goes 2-for-4 in big league debut

12:17 AM CDT on Friday, July 30, 2010
By DREW DAVISON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON

It caught Mitch Moreland by surprise. After all, he wasn't expecting a life-changing phone call at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. Triple-A Oklahoma City manager Bobby Jones delivered the news to Moreland, informing him that the Rangers were calling him up.

The Rangers decided to go with Moreland with Ian Kinsler headed to the disabled list. "It's the best feeling in the world," said Moreland, who grew up in Amory, Miss. "I've dreamed of this since growing up and, ever since I could walk, this is what I wanted to do."

Moreland started at first base instead of Chris Davis on Thursday and singled in his first career at-bat. He went 2-for-4.

Moreland was able to fly in his parents and sister to be on hand for his big league debut.

Moreland, who played primarily in the outfield in the minors, will play only first base with the Rangers. His last 12 starts at Triple-A were at first base, and the team feels he is capable of playing it at the major league level.

"I know he is a player, and he's swung the bat well," manager Ron Washington said. "When we knew we weren't going to have Kinsler, we went down and got the best player down there. And that was Moreland."

Moreland comes to the Rangers after hitting .289 with 12 home runs, 29 doubles and 65 RBIs in 95 games with the RedHawks. Over his last 45 games, Moreland has hit .345 with nine home runs, 13 doubles and 40 RBI's.

Moreland off and running!

Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State - Dans 2005) began his major league career tonight with a base hit, starting at 1st base for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are leading Oakland in the top of the 7th, 5 to 3. Moreland is currently 1 for 3. Good Luck Mitch!

DANS CAMP CANCELLED

The last Danville Dan camp, scheduled for this week, has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience. Please email danvilledans@comcast.net for further information.

WHERE DID THE SEASON GO!

With 11 games to go, I'm getting lots of questions about post-season play. So - here it goes! I'm going to give the explanation a shot.

The 1st half/2nd half winners, in each of the three divisions, will play one another in a one game play-off game scheduled for August 9 at the team with the best overall record. We know the Dans will be in that playoff game. At this time, we do know know where it will be played.

Those division winners will travel to Chillicothe, OH for a one day Championship Series on August 11th. Game one that day will feature the teams with the 2nd and 3rd best overall records playing one another. The winner of that game will play the team with the best overall record in the Championship Game that evening. Games times tba.

Go Dans!

A CELEBRATION IS IN ORDER!

While the Danville Dans are on the field battling the Dubois Bombers next Saturday night, July 24, their A #1 trainer, Danielle Whitezel, will be celebrating her marriage to her best friend, Chris Jena.

The Dans and their fans wish them the very best! Expect to see Mrs. Jena (and Mr. Jena) back with the Dans the 1st of August.


CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FROM US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Danville wins Central title

The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

July 5, 2010

BY CHAD DARE
CNHI

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a winner-take-all contest at Hawkins Field in Nashville, the Danville Dans claimed the Prospect League’s Central Division first-half title with a 6-5 win over the Nashville Outlaws.

Danville right-hander Aaron Lambrix threw four shutout innings of relief to secure the win for the Dans and the title.

“Nashville had really solid approaches all weekend against our pitching and they were a very good fastball hitting team,’’ Danville manager Steve Bieser said. “Aaron came in and did a really good job of changing speeds and hitting his spots. He did a good job of keeping them off-balanced.’’

Lambrix, who is in his second season with the Dans, definitely earned his first save of this season as he got the Outlaws Ryan McCaulley to ground out to end the game with the tying run on third and winning run on first.

Bieser said he stuck with the right-hander from Abilene Christian for two reasons.

“We wanted to stretch him out to get him into the rotation and he was doing as well as any pitcher we put out there against them,’’ he said. “His changeup and breaking ball were the difference in the game.’’

Danville (15-12) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth to tie the game 4-4, and then the Dans scored two more in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead as they snapped their four-game losing streak.

“Our guys have done a good job all year of responding in situations like that,’’ Bieser said. “This group doesn’t get too high or too low. Even when we fell behind 4-1, I knew it was still early and these guys were going to battle back.’’

Cole Bieser delivered the game-winning hit for the Dans with a RBI single in the sixth, scoring Jake Huxtable.

While winning the first-half title assures Danville a spot in the postseason tournament, Bieser said there is still more to accomplish.

“We still want to win the second-half title and we’re still playing for home-field advantage,’’ he said. “The worst thing we could do is rest on our laurels.

“Our goal, as it has been all summer, is that we want to keep getting better all summer.’’

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DANS FLAG STATION!

WDAN, who broadcasts Dans games on live radio and internet, has been named Illinois Radio Station of the Year by the Illinois Broadcasters Association. Part of the Neuhoff Media Corporation, the company took four top awards.

The Neuhoff staff in Danville won a First Place Community Service Award and VermilionCountyFirst.com took first place in Illinois as the best website. Geoff Neuhoff, the owner of WDAN, WDNL and WRHK Radio in Danville, was honorad as Illinois Broadcaster of the Year.

Congratulations to Mike Hulvey (General Manager of WDAN, WDNL, and WRHK) and the Neuhoff team! For more information go to www.vermilioncountyfirst.com.

MAKE THAT TEN!!!!!!

Dans alumni Jet Butler (Mississippi State) was taken in the 26th round by the New York Mets. A shortstop from Pensacola, Fl, Butler played for the Dans in 2007. Congratulations Jet!

HUBER NAMED ALL-AMERICAN

Ole' Miss right-hander Brett Huber (Dans 2009) was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the publication announced on Wednesday.

The right-handed reliever also picked up All-SEC honors from the league's coaches when he was named a second team All-SEC selection and was named to the All-Freshman team.

Huber turned in a stellar first season, posting 12 saves and a 2-0 record on the year to help Ole Miss advance to an eighth consecutive NCAA Regional and make an appearance in at least the semifinals of the SEC Tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Eleven of the freshman's 12 saves this season came against Southeastern Conference competition He snagged saves at home against No. 2 Florida, No. 5 LSU and No. 9 Arkansas.

For the year, Huber posted a 3.54 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 19 walks while holding batters to a .216 batting average against in 48.1 innings of work. He also made a team-high 30 appearances, the most relief appearances in a single season by a Rebel pitcher.

Congratulations Brett!

NINE DANS DRAFTED BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Nine Danville Dans players were selected this week in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.

From the 2008 team (14-9), Matt Bywater (Pepperdine) taken in the 7th round by Baltimore, Austin Ross (LSU) in the 8th by Milwaukee, Zach Walter (San Diego) in the 9th by Arizona, Tyler Hess (Pepperdine) by Atlanta in the 19th, and Johnny Dishon (LSU) in the 42nd by Milwaukee.

2007 Dans chosen include, A.J. Griffin (San Diego) in the 13th by Oakland, James Meador (San Diego) in the 21st by Detroit, Tyler Whitney (Mississippi State) in the 34th by Seattle, and Kevin Cahill (Purdue) in the 41st by Washington.

These players join nearly 200 minor leaguers and 17 major leaguers who are Dans alumni! Congratulations guys!

GAMES ON!

COME OUT FOR BUFFALO WILD WINGS WEDNESDAY (June 9) AND CHEER THE DANS ON AS THEY PLAY THE DEKALB LINERS!

21 DANS IN REGIONAL PLAY

21 Danville Dans will be playing in the 2010 NCAA Div. I baseball tournament on 7 different teams, which include the University of San Diego, IL State, Vanderbilt, Louisville, LSU, Baylor, and Ole' Miss.

Dans James Meador(2007), A.J. Griffin (2007), Austin Green (2009-10), Bryan Haar (2010), Andrew Walter (2010), and Zach Walters (2008) will represent their University of San Diego Toreos and will play in the Tempe regional along with Az St., Milwaukee, and Hawaii.

Illinois State will play in the Louisville Regional with Louisville, St. Louis, and Vanderbilt. Their roster includes area standout and 2010 Dan, J.D. Learnard.

Dans Richie Goodenow (2008-09)and Mark Lamm (2009) will travel with their Vanderbilt teammates to the Louisville regional as well.

From Louisville, three Dans alumni include Assistant Coach, Xan Barksdale (2002), Drew Haynes (2008), and Justin Amlung (2009).

Brett Huber (2009) and Brooks Oursler (2010) represent Ole Miss who will journey to Virgina for their Regional play against Virginia, VCU and St. John's.

Dan Evatt (2008) will be playing with Baylor at TCU.

LSU, last year's National Champion, will travel to UCLA and play UC Irvine to kickoff the tournament. Kent St. will also play at UCLA. The 6 Dans on the Tiger squade include: Mason Katz (2010), Mikie Mahtook (2009), Austin Ross (2008), Alex Edward (2009), Johnny Dishon (2008, and Austin Nola (2009.

Good luck Dans!

Regional play will begin June 4 and conclude June 7. Winners will advance to the Super Regional to qualify to reach the College World Series in Omaha.

NOLA NAMED MVP OF SEC TOURNAMENT

2009 Danville Dan, Austin Nola, has been named MVP of this year's SEC Tournament. The sophomore from Baton Rouge batted .457 (7-for-16) with a triple, three doubles, and four RBI. It was an honor 2009 Danville Dan, Mikie Mahtook, received in last year's SEC Tournament. Both Nola and Mahtook were named to the 2010 SEC All-Tournament Team.

LSU won the tournament, defeating Alabama 4-3 in 11 innings. Two other Dans (both 2010) also had an outstanding tournament. In the championship game, the Tigers got out to an early lead when Alex Edward came across the plate on a double by Gaudet. In the 7th inning, Mason Katz "made in incredible sliding catch and doubled-up a runner to end the Alabama threat."

DENNIS' SOUTHERN INDIANA SCREAMING EAGLES WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to Taylor Dennis (Dan 2010) whose Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles won the NCAA Div. II National Championship in Cary, N.C.,today, defeating UC San Diego 6 to 4.

2010 DANS TAKES SOUTHERN INTO NATIONAL TITLE GAME

Congratulations to 2010 Danville Dan and Covington resident, Taylor Dennis, who led his Southern Indiana team to a 3-2 victory over Georgia University in the NCAA Div. II Men's National Tournament. The game prevented the team from elimination and propelled them into the National Championship Game in Cary, N.C. against the University of California San Diego at 11:00 Central time tomorrow (May 29th).

DIAMOND NOTES

2007 Danville Dan (Mississippi State, Ricky Bowen, has been promoted to the Dayton Dragons (Midwest League Class A) in the Reds organization.

From Baseball America - For the second straight day Thursday, the Tigers got encouraging signs that their pitching is on the mend—which seems to be helping the defending national champions rediscover their missing swagger. LSU continued its resurgence with a 7-5 win against Vanderbilt behind eight strong innings from starter Austin Ross,Danville Dan 2008.

Ross allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over eight-plus innings, and held Vandy hitless from the third through the eighth.
Head Coach Paul Mainieri: "The kid is a dominating pitcher except for that one inning when he seems to give up multiple runs, but you just never know when that inning's going to happen. Usually it happens in the fourth or the fifth, today it was the second. But I really didn't fault him all that much. They hit the ball. It wasn't like he was walking batters. I thought the kid showed a lot, he kept challenging hitters . . . He wasn't trying to nibble too much, and I think he really was very, very aggressive, and even his slider, he had good depth on his slider, he was keeping it down and he was throwing it for strikes too. I just think he was masterful tonight. I think he pitched as well as he possibly can tonight."

Mainieri: "Ross was really phenomenal. I mean, he was the story of the game. I was just saying how much fun it is to get good starting pitching. It allowed us to be very aggressive offensively—the hit-and-run, trying to take extra bases.

The SEC Tournament continues today.

DANS TAKE SEC BASEBALL HONORS

Shortstop Austin Nola (LSU-Dans 2009) and Brett Huber (Ole Miss-Dans 2009) have been named All-SEC 2nd Team. Huber has also been named to the SEC All Freshman Team along with Chris Stratton (Mississippi State - Dans 2010). Congrats!

TAYLOR LEADS EAGLES IN POST-SEASON PLAY

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The ninth-ranked University of Southern Indiana baseball team opened NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Series play with a late-night victory over 11th-ranked Minnesota State University, 8-6, Sunday evening in Cary, North Carolina. On the mound, junior right-hander Taylor Dennis (Dans 2010)gave the Eagles seven strong innings to win his 11th of the season. Dennis (11-1 overall, 4-0 postseason) tied the USI single-season record for wins by allowing one run on seven hits. He also struck out six MSU hitters. The Screaming Eagles advance to play sixth-ranked Kutztown University in the winner’s portion of bracket two at 6 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday

DANS DIAMOND NOTES

LSU 3rd baseman, Alex Edward (Dans 2010), had an outstanding game last night in a 14-13 slugout with Mississippi State. The freshman finished 3 for 5 with a homer and an RBI.

Missisippi State 2nd baseman, and incoming Dan, Sam Frost, was 1 for 3 with an RBI.

A total of 6 Dans played in the game. The series contintues today.

DABO SWINGING HOT BAT

Click Here 2008 and 2009 Dan, Dabo Worthington, swings a hot bat at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

COGHLIN SWING HOT BAT

Collectively, the Marlins have had 1,310 at-bats in 38 games.

Perhaps none was bigger than Chris Coghlan's three-run homer off Fernando Nieve in the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon. (Note: Coghlan, 2009 National League Rookie of the Year is a 2004 Danville Dan alumni)
Over the course of the season, there may have been bigger results on a hit. But no single at-bat was constructed better, according to Marlins teammate Cody Ross.

Coghlan's pinch-hit home run capped a 12-pitch showdown with the hard-throwing New York reliever. At the time, New York trimmed a seven-run deficit to one. The Marlins went on to win, 10-8, completing their first-ever four-game sweep of the Mets in Miami.

"For me, it was the best at-bat of the year, from anybody," said Ross, who had a four-hit game, and was on first when the ball cleared the wall in center field. "It was amazing to come up there and foul off so many pitches, and to keep battling. And to stay within himself."

Coghlan remarkably fouled off seven straight pitches after the count was 1-2. The 11th pitch was a slider in the dirt for ball three.

With the count full, Coghlan unloaded on a 95 mph fastball.

"The fact that he was able to take 2-2 and be able to go to 3-2 is impressive," Ross said. "As a hitter, you tend to get caught up in swing mode, where you are fouling pitches off, fouling pitches off. It seems like everything they throwing, you're swinging at, because you're trying to protect.

"He threw a changeup and [Coghlan] took it. That was a big pitch right there."

Off the bat, it was unclear if the ball would have the distance. In fact, Ross said he was heading back to first base to tag up. But the ball was well hit, and it landed on the blue targ in straight away center.

Mets center fielder Angel Pagan's reaction indicated the ball was gone.

"Once I saw Pagan turn his back and start jogging, I was thinking, 'He really got that ball good.' I was actually going to go back and tag at first, and go to second," Ross said. "Once I realized he didn't have a chance, I was like, 'Wow!' "

Coghlan was pinch-hitting for Brett Carroll.

"I know it was a big at-bat for the team, after the Mets had come back and made it close," Coghlan said. "To come off the bench and put the game out of reach, that's pretty much what you try to do when you come off the bench."

-- Joe Frisaro

Update - Danny Worth Gets 1st RBI

In his first career at bat, Danny Worth drove in Migiel Cabrera with a single to right.

WORTH CALLED UP TO MAJORS

Danny Worth (Pepperdine) becomes the 17th Dan to play major league baseball as he joins the Detroit Tigers today, May 16th, 2010. Danny will wear #29.

Worth was a member of the 2005 Dans (34-12) and one of 11 players drafted from that team.

Worth was coached by Jamie Sailors and was hosted by Pat & Elaine O'Shaughnessy.

Dans Meador Honored

Congratulations to 2007 Danville Dan, James Meador (San Diego) for his selection as an April Star of the Month by the San Diego Hall of Champions for his outstanding performance as last year's conference Player of the Year. James was 22-for-55 (.400) with 7 doubles, 2 home runs and 19 RBI's for a team that went 12-0 in West Coast Conference Play. He also earned WCC Player of the Week honors with a 4-for-5 game that included 4 RBI's and a homer against Gonzaga.

DAN GAINS GLVC FIRST TEAM HONORS

The University of Indianapolis's Donovan Drake (Danville Dan 2009 and 2010) has been named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference first team baseball squad.

Donovan has a 6-4 record with a 3.23 ERA, 2.11 in conference play. He has 5 complete games including two shutouts. Opponents have been held to a .228 batting average. He has struck out 64 and walked only 19 in 64 innings.

2010 DANS DUO LEADS PEPPERDINE

Nearly half-way through the college baseball season, two Danville Dans lead Pepperdine in hitting.

Leading the team is shortstop Mike Silverstein, hitting .315 in 89 at bats with 28 hits, 3 doubles, and 8 walks. Coming in with a batting average of .310, outfielder Floyd Given has 2 home runs, 22 hits, 3 doubles and 9 walks.

Silverstein is a redshirt sophomore from Bell Canyon, CA and is the son of Mark Silverstein and Jan Schmidt. Given is a junior from Rohnert Park, CA and is the son of Floyd and Deborah Given.

The 2010 Danville Dans open at home on June 3. For more information type in address: http://www.danvilledans.com

THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY.....

This day in baseball history, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, taking his first at bat with the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers. On June 20th of that same year, the Dodgers played an exhibition game at Danville Stadium, beating the farm team Danville Dodgers 14-7.

A standing room only crowd of 6,052 watched Robinson on the field with other luminaries like Pee Wee Reese, Duck Snider, Eddie Stanky and Gil Hodges. Stanky and Snider each cracked home runs.

2010 DAN EARNS HONOR

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana (USI) junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Dennis (Dans 2010) has been named GLVC Pitcher of the Week.

Dennis gave USI a seven-inning complete game on Saturday to help the Eagles sweep the first half of a four-game series at Rockhurst University. The communications major scattered four hits to shutout the Hawks in his only start of the week. He also struck out six batters.

For the season, Dennis is 4-1 in nine starts. He also has struck out 27 batters in 48innings of work.

As a team, the Eagles moved up to 22nd in the Collegiate Baseball/Division II Top 30 poll and 15th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 25. USI was 28th last week in the Collegiate Baseball poll and 22nd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.

For more 2010 Dans information, type in address bar: http://www.danvilledans.com.

DANS DIAMOND NOTES - IN THE PROS

Wondering where your favorite Danville Dan is this season? Here's an update. Danny Worth (05) is in AAA with the Toledo Mudhens and was on the major league roster during spring training. Jason Anderson*, Danville's own, is in Lehigh Valley AAA.

Dan Kasczrowski (League MVP 08) is with the Advanced A Visalia Rawhides, Ricky Bowen (07) with the Rookie League Billings Mustangs, Dan Black (07) with Single A Kannapolis Intimidaters, and Kiel Roling (07) with the AA Tulsa Drillers.

And we're just getting started with what we know to date.

Ryan Schimpf (07) is with the A Lansing Lugnuts, David Born (06) with the Rookie League Casper Ghosts, Ricardo Pecina (06) with the High H Potomac Nationals, Bryce Stowell (06) with the Kinston Indians High A club, and Billy Alvino (06) with the West Michigan Whitecaps A level.

Tanner Roark (06) is in AA with the Frisco Roughriders, Evan Button (06) with the short season Yakima Bears, and Aaron Weatherford (06) with the short season Tri City Dust Devils.

Louis Coleman (06)is in AA with the North West Arkansas Naturals. From the 2005 Dans, Justin Snyder(05)with the AA Trenton Thunder, Neil Schenk with the High A Charlotte Stone Crabs, Dan Sattler with High A Stockton Ports, Wes Roemer with the AA Mobile Bay Bears, Dusty Napoleon with the Stockton Ports High A, Mitch Moreland in AAA with the Oklahoma City Redhawks, and Jeff Flagg with the the A level Savanah Sand Gnats.

In AAA from the 2003 team, Van Pope with the Gwinett Braves and Kory Feiner with the Louisville Bats. From 2001 - Matt Tolbert* with the AAA Rochester Redhawks and Eric Stults* with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes.

In the majors, Jon Papelbon (01)with the Boston Red Sox, Chris Coghlan (04)with the Mariners (2009 Rookie of the Year), Matt Daley (03)with the Colorado Rockies and Randy Ruiz (1999) with the Toronto Blue Jays.

More to come! (Note * indicates major league experience)

LEE NAMED TO NATIONAL HONOR ROLL

Arkansas State sophomore Jacob Lee (Dans 2009) has been named to the CollegeBaseball360.com Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for his performance on the mound in leading the Red Wolves to a 3-1 victory over No. 18 Western Kentucky April 4.

Lee, one of just 16 players from across the nation to be named to the list, struck out eight batters in 6.2 innings to get the win and help ASU earn the series victory in Sunday's decisive game three against the Hilltoppers.

Lee held the opponent, who came into the series averaging 9.5 runs per game, to a single run in the Sunday finale. The Jonesboro, Ark. native surrendered just five hits, all singles, along the way. After giving up three hits and walking in a run in the first three innings, Lee settled in and retired the next 12 batters he faced to put the Red Wolves in position to earn the win.

FORMER DAN HITS FOR CYCLE

BATON ROUGE, La. - No one was happier for 2009 Danville Dan Austin Nola when he hit for the cycle last summer, than Dans and LSU teammate Mikie Mahtook. Last night, the tables turned. It was Mikie who hit for the cycle and Austin who cheered him on. The third-ranked Tigers pounded 20 hits as LSU defeated Alcorn State, 17-5, Tuesday night in Alex Box Stadium.


Nola was the first Dan to hit for the cycle and Mahtook became the first Tiger to do so since Aaron Hill accomplished the feat on April 5, 2003 against South Carolina. Mahtook went 4-for-4 with five runs scored as he doubled in the first inning, singled in the second, ripped a triple off the wall in the fifth and blasted a two-run dinger in the sixth.

Way to go Mikie!

Bywater Named WCC Co-Pitcher of the Week

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine junior Matt Bywater (Danville Dans 2008) Monday was named West Coast Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week for the 2nd time this season.

Bywater was recognized by the conference for recording a complete game shutout victory Saturday against Stony Brook. Bywater struck out eight Seawolves in the 3-0 win and got their cleanup hitter Robert Dyer to end the game on a groundout with two runners in scoring position.

The southpaw tossed 100 pitches, scattered six hits, but did not walk or hit a batter. He struck out the side in the first inning before facing the minimum 18 batters up through the seventh.

A 2010 WCC Preseason All-Conference Team selection, Bywater was named to the All-WCC first team in 2009 and to its all-freshman team in 2008. He owns a career record of 15-7 with 150 strikeouts and a 4.05 earned-run average.

DANVILLE STADIUM WELCOMES VARSITY ROOM

Danville Stadium will welcome a new concessionaire for the 2010 season. "The Varsity Room at the Stadium" will be open for all games beginning early April, including those of Danville High School, Schlarman High School, Danville Area Community College, the Speakers (American Legion Post 210), and of course, the Danville Dans. Dans fans will still be able to enjoy Chicago Style Hotdogs and Sno Cones while enjoying a new look and expanded service.

Stop by the Varsity Room in downtown Danville and you'll get a "taste" of what's to come.

DANS NAME PITCHING COACH

The Danville Dans have named Talley Haines Pitching Coach for the 2010 season.

After completing his college career at Southeast Missouri and Freed-Hardeman Universities, Haines was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998. During his 9 year tenure in pro ball, he pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, spending a portion of 7 years in Triple-A.

In 2004 Talley was a Major League Rule 5 selection and was added to the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Roster. He owns a total of five championship rings, ranging from high school, to college, to pro ball where he was a member of two Durham Bulls (AAA) championship teams. Haines was a Double-A All-Star and a member of the 2005 USA National Team.

Making their home in Cape Girardeau, MO, Talley is married to the former Jackie Derwort. They have two daughters, Melaina 2, and Maria 4 months.

Head Coach, Steve Bieser, and Coach Haines bring a combined 22 years of professional ball to the Dans program. They also bring their experience in directing both The Pro Edge Baseball Camps (Bieser) and Balls and Strikes Indoor Baseball Facility (Haines). Watch for further information on Dans camps this summer, to be held June 14-17, July 13-15, and July 27-29.

FOURTEEN DANS TO MEET IN BATON ROUGE

Thursday night, March 4, the LSU Tiger baseball team will host the Waves of Pepperdine. Fourteen Danville Dans alumni and/or incoming players will be represented in the contest.

Those include Pepperdine's Matt Bywater (08), Trent Diedrich (08), Floyd Given (10), Tyler Brubaker (10), Ryan VanAmburg (09), Nate Johnson (09), Cody Yount(09), and Matt Silversten (10. Dans represented on the LSU squad are Mikie Mahtook (09),Austin Ross (08), Johnny Dishon (08), Alex Edward (10), Austin Nola (09), and Mason Katz (10).

The game begins at 6:30 pm and can be accessed from the LSU website at http://www.lsusports.net.

DANS RELEASE 2010 PRE-SEASON ROSTER

The Danville Dans have released their 2010 Pre-Season Roster representing 15 different colleges throughout the country. Among those colleges are four ranked in the top 25 in pre-season polls; LSU, Ole Miss, San Diego, and Pepperdine.

Austin Green*, RHP, So, San Diego
Jason Hamm*, C, Jr, St. Leo
Mason Katz, IF/C, Fr, Louisiana State
Alex Edward, IF/OF, Fr, Louisiana State
Jake Huxtable, IF, So, University of Central Florida
Miles Silverstein, SS, So, Pepperdine
Bryan Haar, IF, So, San Diego
Tyler Brubaker, OF, So, Pepperdine
Floyd Given, OF, SO, Pepperdine
Sam Frost, if/of, Fr, Mississippi State
Cole Bieser, cf/util, Fr, SE Missouri
Harry Clark, if/dh/c, Fr, UAB
Aaron Lambrix*, rhp, so, Abilene Christian
Ryan Livingston*, rhp, so, Chapman
JD Learnard, rhp, fr, Il State
Wil Browning, rhp, jr, Louisiana-Monroe
Chad Girodo, lhp, fr, Mississippi State
Donavan Drake*, rhp, so, University of Indianapolis
Taylor Dennis, rhp, jr, Southern IN
Brooks Oursler, rhp, fr, Mississippi
Keven Inman, rhp, jr, Pepperdine
Chris Stratton, rhp fr, Mississippi State
Aaron Brandt, rhp so, St. Leo

*indicates returner

Awaiting two letters of committment, the Dans will roster a total of 26 players. The Dans open at home on Thursday, June 3.

MEADOR NAMED WCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Senior outfielder James Meador of the University of San Diego baseball team (Dans 2007) was been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week.


Meador, a 6-1 senior from Ramona, Calif., helped lead USD to a 3-1 record last weekend to open up the 2010 season. Meador led the USD offense as he went 8-for-14 (.571) with two doubles, one home run and a team-leading six RBI. In Saturday's game two of the double-header against Indiana University, Meador went 4-for-5 with one double, one home run, two singles and fell just a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Meador is also boasting a .600 on base percentage, and slugging at a .929 clip.

DANS HONORS ROLL ON

MONROE, La.-University of Louisiana Monroe junior right-hander Wil Browning (Dans 2010) added two more honors to his resume Wednesday when he was tabbed Louisiana Pitcher of the Week for his performance at No. 17 Ole Miss last Friday and named to the CollegeBaseball360.com Primetimer Performer Weekly Honor Roll. Browning was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

Bywater Earns Pitching Accolade From NCBWA

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine (Dans 2008) junior left-hander Matt Bywater (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks HS) Tuesday was named Pro-Line Athletic National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) for the period ending February 21.

BYWATER NAMED WCC PITCHER OF THE WEEK

MALIBU, Calif. - Junior Matt Bywater (Dans 2008) has been selected as the West Coast Conference's Pitcher of the Week. Bywater was recognized for his complete game shutout of No. 4 Cal State Fullerton last Saturday night at Goodwin Field.

Bywater (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks HS) scattered four hits and struck out 10 Titans in the Waves' 6-0 victory, marking his fourth career double-digit strikeout game. Twice he left runners stranded at third base following the seventh-inning stretch, and earlier, he induced two double plays to escape jams in the second and fourth innings.

Matt's Player of the Week citation is the first of his career although the conference has previously honored him with three annual awards, including spots on the 2009 All-WCC first team and 2008 All-WCC freshman team.

Bywater currently owns a career win-loss record of 13-4 along with 107 strikeouts and an earned-run average of 4.67. He has also been the recipient of extraordinary run support over his last 11 starts, in which the Waves have posted a 10-1 record while averaging 9.5 runs per game.

2010 Home Schedule Announced

June 3 vs Dubois
June 8 vs Hannibal
June 9 vs Dekalb
June 12 vs Quincy
June 15 vs Dubois
June 16 vs Dupage
June 17 vs Hannibal
June 18 vs Richmond
June 19 vs Quincy
June 23 vs Terre Haute
June 26 vs Richmond
June 29 vs Beckley
June 30 vs Beckley
July 1 vs Springfield
July 8 vs Dekalb
July 9 vs Terre Haute
July 10 vs Terre Haute
July 13 vs Nashville
July 14 vs Nashville
July 15 vs Terre Haute
July 16 vs Springfield
July 24 vs Dubois
July 28 vs Nashville
Aug 2 vs Springfield
Aug 3 vs Dupage
Aug 5 vs Dubois
Aug 6 vs Richmond

DANS DIAMOND NOTES

February - 2010

Dans Alumni, Matt Bywater (2008-Pepperdine)pitched the first complete game shutout of his career in Pepperdine's 6-0 win over #4 Cal State Fullerton Saturday night. His effort was capitalized by 10 strikeouts. 2010 Danville Dan, Miles Silverstein finished the night 3-for-4.

2010 Danville Dan, Chris Stratton, won his collegiate pitching debut Saturday, throwing 6 innings of shutout baseball as the Mississippi State Bulldogs shutout Rhode Island 9-0.

In San Diego, the Torreos opened with a double-header against Indiana, winning both. In game one, USD's four and five hitters in the lineup were James Meador (2007) and Bryan Haar (2010) who combined to reach base nine times and produce 7 of the team's 12 runs. Haar was a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with a double, a walk, and 2 runs scored. Meader, meanwhile, was 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI, 3 runs scored, and a walk.

In game 2, Meador continued his torrid pace going 4-for-5 with 2 extra-base hits while scoring 2 runs in the 9-4 contest.

Pitching just one hour from his hometown in his University of Louisiana Monroe debut, 2010 Danville Dan, Wil Browning, was perfect in 2.2 innings of relief as the Warhawks stunned #17 Ole Miss at Oxford-Univeristy Stadium, defeating the Rebels 6-5 Friday evening. Browning, a native of Kosciusko, MS, entered the game in the 7th with a runner on 1st and one out. He struck out both batter he faced in the 7th and the first batter he faced in the 8th. He finished the game with 4 strikeouts and earned the save.

Danville Dans Austin Nola (2009), Mikie Mahtook (2009), and Austin Ross (2008), helped LSU defeat Centenary in a weekend double header, helping Coach Paul Mainieri earn his 1,000th career win. In game one, Austin Nola had a 2-RBI performance, including the game-winning sacrifice fly, to earn a 5-4 victory. LSU broke a a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third with a 2 out RBI single by right fielder Mikie Mahtook (2009).

In game two, the winning pitcher was Austin Ross, who went 5.0 innings, allowing no runs on three hits while walking none and striking out five. "Austin Ross gave us a superb performance." commented Mainieri. In the 8th inning, Johnny Dishon (2008, capped off the game ripping a two-run homer to left.

Dans Diamond Notes......

The West Coast Conference (WCC)has announced the results of their pre-season baseball coaches poll. USD and Pepperdine are picked one/two. The Preseason All-Conference Team is loaded with Dans alumni which include position players James Meador (USD) & Zach Walters (USD) along with pitchers AJ Griffin (USD) and Matt Bywater (Pepperdine).

The 2010 Danville Dans schedule is expected to be released the 2nd week in March.

The Dans 2010 roster will include returners Austin Green (USD), Adam Lambrix (Abiliene Christian), Ryan Livingston (Chapman University), and Donavan Drake (University of Indianapolis).

Outlaws Make Fifteen....

The Nashville Outlaws, playing at Vanderbilt, become the 15th team for 2010, making the Prospect League (CICL) the fastest growing summer league in the country.

The League will be comprised of three divisions. The East Division will include the Beckley Miners (WV), the Slippery Rock Sliders (PA), the Butler Blue Sox (PA), the NorthCoast Knights (Loraine, OH), and the Chillicothe Paints (OH).

The Dans will be in the Central Divison with the Terre Haute Rex (IN), the Richmond River Rats (IN), the Dubois County Bombers (IN), and the Nashville Outlaws (TN).

The West Division will be comprised of the Dupage Dragons (IL), the Dekalb Liners (IL), the Springfield Rifles (IL), the Hannibal Cavemen (MO), and the Quincy Gems (IL).