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!

PAPELBON UPDATE

Baseball America should be required reading for the serious baseball fan (www.baseballamerica.com), a great Christmas present if you need to do some last minute shopping! A little humor regarding Jon Papelbon (Dans 2001) from this month’s Peter Gammons' column. “Boston has the luxury of an elite closer in Jonathan Papelbon, whose stuff and makeup are off the charts. He is fearless, and he is Fingers-esque, as in Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers, who saved 341 games, won the 1981 AL MVP and Cy Young awards, and closed for three World Series Winners. In the bottom of the 9th in Game Two of the AL Division Series against the Angels, as David Ortiz was being walked intentionally to bring up Manny Ramirez, Papelbon asked Francona (Red Sox Manager), whether or not he would pitch the 10th inning if they scored. “If we score Pap, it’s over,” laughed a teammate. And Ramierz drilled a three-run homer.” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to players, friends and fans!

3rd DAN JOINS TOP PROSPECT LIST

Wes Roemer (Dans 2005) joins Dans alumni Van Pope and Chris Coghlin (see November 17 posting) in being recognized by Baseball America as a Top 10 Prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Drafted in 2007 (1st round supplemental) Wes spent the 2007 minor league season with the Arizona Diamondbacks Yakima club with limited work, after pitching 144 innings during the spring season with Cal State Fullerton. Roemer is expected to begin the 2008 in Visalia (CA).

DAN WINS ALL-AMERICAN HONORS

2007 Danville Dan alumni, Kiel Roling, has been named, by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), 2nd Team All-American after a dominating season in Tempe where he hit 15 homers, drove in 63 runs, and finished the season batting .356. He also earned 1st Team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Kiel’s season with the Dans was cut short due to an injury. He is completely mended and looking forward to the 2008 season with Arizona State. Arizona State opens their season Feb. 22nd at home with Miami (Ohio).

WALLACE WATCH LIST

Danville Dans Aaron Weatherford (2006 - Mississippi State)and A.J. Griffin (2007 - Univ. of San Diego) have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award. The Wallace Award is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame annual induction to be held July 3, 2008 on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Weatherford completed the 2007 campaign at Mississippi State as one of the SEC's top relief pitchers with five saves and a 1.82 ERA in 14 relief stints. He earned a pair of saves and did not allow a run in four clutch NCAA regional/super regional relief appearance. While with the Dans, Aaron sported a .083 ERA.

A first-team All-West Coast Conference selection, Griffin finished his freshman year at USD recording 11 saves to place second at the school in that category, trailing only Tony Perez's (13 saves in 2003). Griffin posted an overal record of 6-2 with a team-leading 2.70 ERA. While with the Dans, A.J. posted a 2.61 ERA with 43 strikeouts in a closing role and held the opponents to a .147 Batting Average.

The Wallace Award is dedicated to former Texas Tech player and assistant coach, Brooks Wallace (1977-1980, who succumbed to cancer at the young age of 27.

Other Dans alumni previously named to the watch list are Chris Choglan (Dans 2004 - Ole Miss) and Paul Coleman (Dans 2004 - Pepperdine.