The State of the Dans.

Despite being in second-to-last place in the Zotti League standings, the Danville Dans are pleased to present this overview: The State of the Dans.

First and foremost, Danville continues to be pleased with the acquisition and development of CF Paulino Zamorano. Acquired in an early July trade with Seattle, Zamorano earned the Zotti League's Player of the Week award in mid-August, hitting .500 with three homeruns and 10 RBI. Much of this production came in two consecutive games: an 8-6 loss at New York and a 6-2 win against visiting Walla Walla. In the loss, Zamorano went 3-for-3 with two homeruns and five RBI, a career record. In the win, the Danville player achieved a double, a homerun and batted in three runs. Zamorano was named Player of the Game in both contests.

Other recent highlights for Danville include right-fielder David Kerry's performance as Danville beat the Paddlewheelers 6-4 at River Cities in yesterday's game (August 18). Kerry, named Player of the Game for his efforts, went 3-for-4 with two homeruns and three RBI. The Dans also beat the Scorpions 6-1 in an August 15 contest at South Bay, in which seven Dans hit doubles. Michael Salzman, Larry Debusk, David Kerry, Billy Foster, Winston Satterlee, Kelvin Rios and pitcher Frank Osborne each hit for extra bases. Bill Mastrangelo also tagged a homerun in that game. Danville also continues to hold tightly to a highly contested second place in Zotti's AAA League race in which three other teams are just one game behind the Danville's DuBois County Bombers. Danville is also holding on to second in double- and single-A ball.

It's not all sunshine and roses for the Dans however, with two players injured in the same game in early August. In a home loss against Walla Walla on August 9, the Dans' starting pitcher, Andrew Weimer was struck by a line drive, breaking his cheekbone. That wasn't the end of the Dans' troubles, however. Billy Hayton, outfielder, entered the game when he pinch ran for rightfielder David Kerry in the seventh inning. In the top of the ninth, Hayton succeeded in preventing the Federal Duck from extending its lead when he chased down a fly ball on the rightfield line but earned a broken rib for his troubles. Hayton will be out of commission for another week, while Weimer should return just before the season ends.

The Dans finish a roadtrip at River Cities (5-19 vs. RIV), head to Covington for a three-game mid-week trip (13-9 vs. COV), and then return to Danville for a seven-game homestand againt New York (7-15 vs. NY) and Covington.