DANVILLE — For over a decade, Eric Coleman saw close games take place at Danville Stadium.
On Friday, he was able to return to the place with so many memories and good friends while his former team continued a unbeaten first week of the season.
Coleman returned to be honored in a ceremony in the fourth inning. He was handed a plaque by team owners Rick Kurth and Jeanie Cooke and also addressed the crowd that he always enjoyed.
“I would have never thought that this could happen 11 years ago. Jeanie and Rick took a chance on me and I would have never thought that Danville would embrace me and it is an honor to be back,” Coleman said. “It is a family atmosphere here. You are a Dan for life one you play for me and a lot of guys stay in touch of me. I am happy to be a piece of the history in Danville because the tradition was here before me but it has been an honor and it has been a ride.”
Coleman is the lead rep for USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series in Tennessee.
“We get to work with the 11-12 years olds in the area,” Coleman said. “I started last fall and I worked with (former Major Leaguer) Juan Pierre’s kid and there are a few kids that have a chance to make the US team and the major leagues. It is fun.”
As for the game, the Dans were able to break a 5-5 tie with two runs in the eighth in an 7-5 win over the Terre Haute Rex to remain undefeated for the first week of the season.
“This was a great day of baseball and it was tied a lot of the way, but like I said, these guys find a way to win. I am really proud and happy for them,” Danville coach Cam Gross said. “ I was also happy one of my guys, Will Burke, gets the winning triple. I wish I could win one by a lot so I don’t get a heart attack near the end of one, but I am ecstatic. Jackson Kees closing the game and Blake Hoffa coming in for Hayden Trier gave us great pitching. I am proud of them and I hope it is a reflection of me and the staff.”
Burke broke the tie with a triple to bring in Amir Streeter, while Carson Brady drove in Burke with an fly out. Burke and Brady are two of the guys that Gross has coached before reuniting in Danville.
“Burke, Carson Brady, JJ Baysinger, Mason McReynolds are some of my guys,” Gross said. “I have coached those guys before and I love those guys as mich as I love my own brother. They get to make the kids of Danville happy the same way they make me happy. They are great kids and good at the whole baseball thing.”
“We played for him last summer,” Burke said. “I know me and Carson were going to play in the Florida league before coach Cam texted us about coming up here right before we signed and it looked a lot cooler than that. I like it and the weather is cooler.
“There was a runner on third, so I had to get the ball in the air. He threw breaking balls low. Luckily, the first baseman dropped the foul ball I hit and then the next one, I stayed with it and got the job done.”
Nick Palmi had a three-run home run in the first to take a 3-2 lead, while Cameron Steinbaugh doubled in a run for a 4-2 lead. Brady reached on an error to score Burke in the second for a 5-2 lead.
The Rex scored a run in the third and added two in the sixth to tie things up.
Trier had five strikeouts in five innings, while Hoffa got the win with six strikeouts in three innings and Kees had two strikeouts in the ninth.
Gross was able to have a talk with Coleman as he tries to continue things how his predecessor had.
“He was here for 11 years and won hundreds of game and had numerous draft picks,” Gross said. “He is a savant for the game of baseball and I am happy to be his successor and we talked pregame for a while and he is an encyclopedia of knowledge. The Dans are not as respected if he wasn’t here, along with coach (Ron) Polk.”
“It is the same philosophy like get them on, get them over and get them in,” Coleman said. “We are playing small ball and in this park you do that. He is going to have his own style and own stamp on it. They are off to a good start and hopefully it continues.”
It continued on Saturday with an 11-inning win over the Decatur Bean Ballers.
Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin grad Caden Kelemenic started the game and had four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, while Salt Fork product Pedro Rangel IV had four strikeouts in four innings to get his first win of the season.
Decatur took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, but Palmi had an RBI triple and Baysinger had an sacrifice fly in the sixth to tie things up.
In the 11th, Baysinger drove in two runs with a single and Hudson Roberts had an sacrifice fly to get the win.
The Dans complete the first week of the season with an 5-0 record and will try to build on that today. The team returns to Danville Stadium for a doubleheader with the Champion City Half Trax at 5:30 p.m.