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!

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.

DANS HONORED FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

This fall, the Mississippi State Baseball team lead all other men’s teams with a composite grade point average of 3.23. Three Danville Dans, Jet Butler (2007), Nick Hardy (2005-2006), and Andy Wilson (2004), were among the 7 players attaining a perfect 4.0. They were joined by Jason Nappi (2007), named to the President’s Scholar list, and Ricky Bowen (2007), earning Dean’s Scholar honors. Great job Dans!