Danville splits two-game series against Johnson City in Appalachian League action

Danville started the series with a come-from-behind win in the opener before falling to Johnson City in Game 2…

The Danville Otterbots’ Caleb Ricks (4) slides safely into third base during the Otterbots’ showdown against rival Burlington last week. PHOTO: Brian Cendejas.

DANVILLE — The Johnson City Doughboys avoided a two-game sweep with an 11–6 win over the Danville Otterbots in Appalachian League action Saturday night on American Legion Post 325 Field at Dan Daniel Park.

In a battle between two of the top three teams in the Appy League, Johnson City (10–9) jumped on Danville in the top of the third, scoring four runs to break open a one-run game. Gunner Skeleton got things moving with an RBI single to left field and Skeleton scored moments later on a wild pitch for a three-run lead. Eli Thurmond (Florida Southern) kept the line moving with his RBI bases-loaded walk and Thurmond capped things off when he scored on a wild pitch for a 5–0 advantage.

Danville (11–8) bounced back with two runs in its half of the third on Jordan Jacob’s two-run single to center that trimmed the deficit to 5–2.

The Otterbots’ momentum didn’t last long as Brandon Van Cleave (Kentucky) smacked a three-run home run in the top of the fourth to give the Flyboys an 8–2 lead. Van Cleave struck again in the top of the fifth, making it a 10–2 contest with his two-run single to center.

Keeping the back-and-forth going, Kyle Krupp (Morehead State) scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch that got the ‘Bots within 10–3.

After neither team scored in the sixth, Jackson Geiger (South Florida) pushed Johnson City’s lead to 11–3 with his RBI single to left.

Despite facing the eight-run deficit, Danville kept swinging, pulling within 11–4 on Wyatt Shaw’s RBI sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the fifth. The Otterbots’ capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth, plating a pair of runs on an error on Caleb Ricks’ steal attempt and Tyler Kenast’s RBI double to right that led to the final score.

The Doughboys took an early 1–0 lead on Van Cleave’s RBI double to center in the top of the first.

Van Cleave led Johnson City with six RBI while Skelton and Geiger drove in a run each.

Jacob (Pittsburgh) drove in a team-high two runs for Danville while Kenast and Shaw (Valparaiso) recorded an RBI apiece.

Eli Miller (Florida Southern) got the win on the bump, throwing two innings of one-hit, one-run relief while striking out one.

Danville vs. Johnson City (June 26)

Danville rallied in the bottom of the eighth on its way to a thrilling 9–8 win over Johnson City in Appalachian League action on American Legion Post 325 Field on Friday night.

The Otterbots entered the bottom of the eighth facing an 8–7 deficit. However, the Otterbots rallied back with a pair of runs in the frame for the lead. Brody Jindra knotted the score with his single to right and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt brought Davis Perkins (Tyler JC) home with the go-ahead run and 9–8 edge.

Diego Guiterrez (San Diego) closed out the game in big fashion, striking out the side for his first save of the season.

Trailing 7–3, Johnson City started the comeback theme in the top of the seventh, scoring a pair of runs when Jack Jones (Johnson City CC) came home on a wild pitch and Gabe Tanous (Central Connecticut State) drove in a run with his sacrifice flyout to center.

The Doughboys kept their momentum rolling in the top of the eighth, scoring three runs for the lead. Noah Cox (Winthrop) got things going with his RBI double to left and Kenyon Hughes Jr. (Southern) followed with an RBI single to right that knotted the score. Tanous gave Johnson City an 8–7 lead with his RBI single.

Geiger got the scoring started in the top of the first with his three-run, home run to right that gave the Doughboys an early 3–0 lead.

Danville answered back in its half of the first, pulling within 3–1 on Jindra’s RBI groundout. The Otterbots obliterated their deficit in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs in the frame. Ricks (Notre Dame) started the frame with his run-scoring single to left and Krupp pushed the ‘Bots in front with his two-run triple to right. Perkins capped things off with his RBI double that gave the Otterbots a 5–3 advantage.

Danville starter Kamden Hawks (Morehead State) turned in a solid start, giving up two hits and three runs — all earned — while striking out seven in four innings thrown. Hawks’ only blemish was Geiger’s three-run blast in the bottom of the first.

The ‘Bots picked up some insurance in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on Shaw’s RBI single and Ricks’ RBI bases-loaded, hit-by-a-pitch that extended their lead to 7–3 entering the top of the sixth.

Krupp, Jindra and Ricks drove in two runs each for Danville while Perkins and Shaw recorded an RBI each.

Geiger led Johnson City with three RBI while Tanous drove in two runs and Hughes Jr. chipped in with one.

Kenast got the win on the bump in relief.

Danville finishes the first half of the season on top of the East Division, holding a 1.5 game lead over rival Burlington. The Otterbots return to action on June 30 when they take on the Bluefield Ridge Runners on the road at 6:30 p.m.

Danville will play host to a doubleheader featuring the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) Stars and Stripes squads today starting at 1 p.m. at Dan Daniel Park. Johnson City will take on the CNT Stars at 1 p.m. while Danville will follow with a showdown against the CNT Stripes at 5:30 p.m.