DANVILLE— The Danville Dans entered the third week of action looking for a fresh start.
Thanks to strong hitting to start the game and strong pitching throughout, the Dans were able to shut out the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp 7-0 on Tuesday at Danville Stadium.
“We did a good job. We put up seven, but I said we can’t be satisfied and we still put the pressure on them. We strung together 12 hits and came out with a win,” Dans manager Eric Coleman said. “It is week three and the guys are still trying to get to know each other, but we came out today with some good energy and came out with the win.”
Gavin McLendon started the game giving up only three hits with four strikeouts in four innings, while Julius Ejike-Charles gave up one hit with four strikeouts in five innings for the win.
“Gavin pitched well and Julies did a great job as well,” Coleman said. “Any time you can shut someone out in the Prospect League is tough and we will take it.”
Both pitchers fought a little adversity. For McClendon, this was one of his first starts since coming back from injury.
“I am coming off Tommy John, so I wanted to do another inning, but I understood,” McClendon said. “Julius came in and did an amazing job. I talked to my coaches and my catcher (Asa Martinez) that I needed to settle down and I am still building up, so I will be going 5-6 innings the next time.”
The lefty from Folsom Lake College had some early struggles, but was able to battle back thanks to the Dans’ defense.
“They really picked me up in the first inning,” McClendon said. “I walked a couple of guys and after that, they picked me up and I would not have done anything without them.”
The defense continued to fight when Ejike-Charles came in to pitch in the fifth inning. The lefty from Tulane University was helped by double plays in the fifth, seventh and in the ninth to finish the game.
“Gavin did a great job and I was fired up to compete for my boys and I was lucky to keep it scoreless,” Ejike-Charles said. “My infield worked really hard and we had some great infielders and they returned it well all game.”
Ejike-Charles was on the mound on Tuesday, but will be doing more than pitching in the weeks ahead.
“I am actually a two-way player and I am getting some at bats and pitching as well. It was my first time out there and it was good to get out and throw the ball,” Ejike-Charles said. “I am more focused on hitting right now, but whenever they need me on the mound, I will get on the mound.
The Dans put up all of their runs in the first four innings, with the big blow coming in the second on a three-run home run by Joshua Martin, who is entering his second week with the Dans.
“He’s comes from one of the best Juco programs in California and he is going to the University of Hawaii,” Coleman said. “He can flat out hit and plays good defense. I expect him to have a good year here and when he goes to Hawaii.”
“I knew he was coming with a change up, and I just swung at it and it went,” Martin said. “The guys here are great and the weather was tough to start, but I will get through it and we have some great indoor facilities, but it is a great time out here.
“We stepped it up from yesterday, we talked about approaches to the plate and we got better. As time goes, we will get better with everything.”
The starter for Illinois Valley was Armstrong-Potomac product Kollin Asbury. Asbury only went two innings, but was able to face an familiar face in the second in Kankakee Community College teammate and Dans leftfielder Dalton Hobick.
“Me and Kollin has played on the same team for a long time,” Hobick said. “I gave the guys a scouting report and they had success from it. It is fun to come back and play someone who grew up 20 minutes away from me and it was fun to go out there and play someone that you know.
“He pitched well all season (at KCC) and I thought he threw well. I know he didn’t have a great game tonight, but he’s going to be alright. It is fun going against an old buddy and I know he felt the same way.”
The Dans hit the road to play the Clinton LumberKings on Wednesday and Thursday, but will return to Danville Stadium for weekend action with a Friday game against the Thrillville Thrillbillies, a doubleheader with the Alton River Dragons on Saturday and a Sunday matinee against the Pistol Shrimp
“We head to Clinton and play two games there and it should be a good test for us,” Coleman said. “We get to come back for three, but we have to take care of business on the road and come back for the weekend.”