Prospect Danville Dans

Dans Finish First Half Strong

Published on July 5, 2011 under Prospect League (Prospect)
Danville Dans News Release


(DANVILLE, IL) - It took a while for the Danville Dans to come together as a team, both on the roster and on the field. After going 4-7 to start the season, the Dans finished the first half of the Prospect League season winning eight out of ten. But that wasn't enough to take the Western Division first-half title, with Quincy Gems having a four game lead over the Dans.

            The Gems will play the second-half winner in a one-game playoff on August 8, with the winner  taking on the Eastern Division winner in a one-game title match on August 10.

            The Dans begin the second half of the home season with the four-game homestand July 6-9 at Danville Stadium. Game times are 6:30 pm.

            Dans pitching has been the bright spot for the team. As a team, the Dans have allowed just 80 earned runs in 25 games, second in the league for fewest runs allowed.

            Abe Bobb (San Francisco) has a 4-0 record in his four starts - including 3 complete games. Bobb has struck out 17 while walking just four with a 2.18 ERA. Returning starter Aaron Brandt (St. Leo) is 2-2 in his five starts, with 21 Ks, three walks and a 2.49 ERA.

            Three Dans pitchers all have a 10-strikeout game in their stats:  Mike Wagner (Sand Diego) is 2-1 with 33 total Ks along with just eight walks in six starts; Nick Rumbelow (LSU) tossed a season-high 14 strikeout game against Hannibal, part of his 31 for the season with seven walks and seven earned runs in four starts with a 2-2 record; and Evan Mitchell (Mississippi State) recorded 10 strikeouts in each of his two starts, going 2-0 six walks and just 9 hits on a .64 ERA

            Dans closer Michael Swanner (Pepperdine) has a league-leading seven saves in nine appearances, giving up one unearned run on just 11 hits in 14 innings. He also has 12 strikeouts and two walks.

            The Dans hitting is starting to come around. Zach Miller (St. Louis University) is fourth in the league batting .371, with 23 hits - four of them for extra bases, including a home run. Miller's also drawn 11 walks while striking out just seven times and driving in a team-high 12 runs in 62 at-bats. 

            Jackson Slaid (LSU) and Wes Rea (Mississippi State) also batted over .300 the first half of the season. Slaid hit .333 in 18 games, with 20 hits, including one home run and four doubles. He's a team leader with 13 runs scored. Slaid stuck out just 12 times, walked eight, and has 10 RBIs. Rea has played in 11 games and has a .300 average, with 9 hits, seven walks and just five strikeouts.

            Leadoff hitter Charlie White (Maryland) has been filling that role well, with a .388 OBP in 25 games. White has 25 hits, 12 walks, and been hit six times. He is a team leader with 12 RBIs on 25 hits. He's also the league leader in stolen bases, successful 17 of 20 tries.

            The Danville Dans are a member of the Prospect League, one of the premier college summer leagues in the nation. The league has fourteen teams, from Hannibal Missouri to Beckley, West Virginia, and from Nashville, Tennessee to DeKalb County, Illinois. Baseball players from as far away as California, Texas and Florida join the league and come to Danville to improve their fielding skills and batting with wood bats. With this dedication, it is no wonder that some players advance to the major leagues after graduation, including 19 former Dan players. 

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Prospect League Stories from July 5, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central