DANVILLE — Cam Gross’ first game as manager of the Danville Dans will be very memorable.
From the Dans and Springfield Lucky Horseshoes teaming up for three hits, to both pitching staff combining for 19 strikeouts, a few errors and a fireworks show before the end of the game.
In the end, it was the Dans that came out with a 5-3 win in front of 2,819 fans at Danville Stadium.
“You love edging out a game like this when the bats are not swinging how we like,” Gross said. “I am proud of the pitching and those guys dominated the rest of the game. Our batters, despite not seeing much grass, they found the way to execute like Amir Streeter, who got on base and stole second to get the final run and Carson Brady hits a flyout with a guy on third.
“I am happy the guys did what it took to win and I am proud of their perseverance when the fireworks were turned on. I am proud of them for rebounding and getting the first dub of the season.”
Cooper Pumphrey started the game with six strikeouts in three innings, while winning pitcher Drake Hoffa had four strikeouts in three innings, but the last three was special for local baseball fans.
Salt Fork product Pedro Rangel IV pitched two innings and Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin product Caden Keleminic had one strikeout in the ninth for the save.
It was after getting the first out of the inning when the fireworks went off with Keleminic on the mound. There was a show scheduled for the end of the game, but it started a little early for a few minutes
“It just happened but there was a lot of adrenaline through me and it didn’t bother me,” Keleminic said. “It feel good coming back and coming back together after one year. It felt great to get the first win.
Mason McReynolds had two hits, while Streeter, Brady and Josiah Sems each had RBIs. Sems had his RBI on a bases-loaded walk, Streeter had an RBI on a groudout, Sems scored on a passed ball, Brady had a sacrifice fly and Cameron Steinbaugh scored on a error.
“It was awesome. Having Amir stealing the first bag and an errant throw scoring a run, it was just want we needed and it is wonderful,” Gross said. “I give a lot of credit to the assistant coaches because those guys manage the game and I couldn’t have don it without them.”
After playing at Springfield on Wednesday, the Dans will return home to face the Terre Haute Rex today at 6:30 p.m.
“We are going to take it game by game and pitch by pitch,” Gross said. “We are going to enjoy that for a little minute and then focus on Springfield.”