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.

ROSS NAMED TO ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

Austin Ross (Dans 08'), a Shreveport, La. product, has been named to the SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll.

To qualify for the SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll, each student-athlete must 1) have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above; 2) be on scholarship or a letter winner; 3) have completed 24 semester hours of non-remedial credit; and 4) have been a member of the varsity team for the sport's entire NCAA Championship segment.

At LSU, Austin made 21 appearances, including two starts. He recorded a 3-1 mark with a 2.58 ERA and three saves in 52.1 innings.

ROSS NAMED LSWA PITCHER OF THE WEEK

LSU right-hander Austin Ross (Dans 08')has been named Pitcher of the Week by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association for his win last Tuesday at Southern. Ross entered the game in the 2nd inning and fired seven shutout frames in relief. He limited the opposition to 4 hits and registered one walk with a personal best eight strikeouts.

SCHIMPF POWERS LSU

Ryan Schimpf (Dans 07) launched a grand slam over the left field wall highlighting a 6 run LSU fourth inning as the Tigers defeated Southern Miss 8-4 Wednesday evening.

Besides Schimpf, two other Danville Dans figured in the win. Outfielder Johnny Dishon (Dans 08) walked to load the bases setting the plate for Schimpf. Freshman right-hander, Austin Ross (pictured), the 2nd of 6 LSU pitchers, was credited with the victory. He worked two shutout innings allowing one hit.