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Sep 15, 2023

PROSPECT LEAGUE BASEBALL: Dans cruise past Mill Rats

Sports Editor DANVILLE — After starting the season with pair of two hit games,

Sports Editor

DANVILLE — After starting the season with pair of two hit games, Danville's Nate Chester settled for an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in Friday's 16-4 win over the Johnstown Mill Rats at Danville Stadium.

As a team, the Dans recorded 11 hits in the game shortened to seven innings by the 10-run rule.

"Any time we can get double-digit runs and double-digit hits, I feel we have a good chance to win the game,’’ said Danville manager Eric Coleman. "Tonight was a good baseball game for us. We were able to get our running game going a little bit.

"I really like what Nate Chester is doing at the plate. There is a reason why he plays at Mississippi State.’’

Chester was able to get five plate appearances in Friday's game, going 1-for-2 with two walks and a sacrifice fly.

"During the game, coach (JD Pulfer) and I were talking about sitting pitches and more important, sitting my pitches at the plate,’’ Chester said. "That's difficult to do, because you want to get a hit and contribute to the team. But there are other ways to contribute to team, like getting on base, talking a walk and stealing bases.

"But if you are a selfish player, you only want to boost your average and get RBIs. At the end of the day, being on a winning summer team is better than being on a losing summer team. I would rather do anything to help my team win.’’

This summer for Chester is all about development. This past spring, he was 4-of-19 (.211 average) in 15 games for the Bulldogs, who missed both the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA Tournament with a 27-26 record.

"Things didn't go so well for us this spring,’’ Chester said. "We are beginning this summer with a clean slate. All of us that are playing summer ball are trying to get better so that we can all be better next season.’’

And what do they want from Chester?

"They mainly want me to focus on my offense,’’ he said. "I was able to get my feet wet this past spring, but they want me to develop my game even more offensively.’’

Chester had one of his team's nine stolen bases on Friday night with Justin Vossos and Julio Cajigas each picking up two in the contest.

Trenton Pallas led the way with three hits for Danville (2-1) while Blake Binderup had a single, a double and three RBIs in the victory.

John Balok Jr. was credited with the victory as he went three innings in relief of starter Gabriel Pancratz as the Dans pitchers walked seven batters in seven innings.

"We still have to do a better job in the zone,’’ Coleman said.

MARION — On Saturday, the Dans went to play one of the newest teams in the Prospect League and could not get the win.

The Thrillbillies took a 3-0 lead after two innings, before DJ Akiyama hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to 3-2. But Thrillville scored five runs in the bottom of the third and was able to stay ahead.

Nate Chester had an RBI single in the fourth for the Dans, while Julio Cajigas drove in a run on a fly, Sammy Leis drove in a run on a groundout and Justin Vossos had an RBI single in the fifth.

In the sixth, an error brought in two more runs and Robert Castillo had an RBI single to end the scoring for the Dans.

Carter Heninger took the loss for Danville, going five innings with six strikeouts, while Carter Krawchuk had six strikeouts and gave up only one hit in three innings.

Sports Editor

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