DANVILLE, Va. — Everyone who follows the Danville Otterbots would all agree on one thing: A 1-8 start was not on the bingo card for a team that took home the title of Appalachian League champions the previous season.
The Otterbots dropped the second game of three to the Burlington Sock Puppets, 11-2, Saturday night. Burlington seemed to solve everything Danville threw at it, and they swung at it with power. The first two outs of the game scored the first two runs — an RBI groundout by Burlington's Zach Jackson and a sacrifice fly by Preston Yaucher.
In the top of the third inning, the nine-hole hitter, Wade Shelley, delivered a sharp line drive to left field to plate the third run of the game for Burlington. Then came the fourth inning, where the Sock Puppets, well, socked it to the home team.
Dom Krupinski sailed a ball over the right-field wall for a grand slam, making the score 7-0. It was his first homer of the season. He finished with five RBIs on the night.
The Otterbots scored their first run in the fifth, courtesy of a single by catcher Charlie Carter. Seth Smith, playing in his first game of the summer, scored from second base.
“We’re trying to get everyone their at-bats,” Danville manager Mickey Tettleton said. “That’s what we’re here for. We’re going to keep running them out there.”
Burlington had another four-run inning in the sixth, pushing their lead to 10. Danville responded with a sacrifice fly from designated hitter and later center fielder, Khaleel Pratt.
The Sock Puppets moved to 7-2, while the Otterbots dropped to 1-8. The two will face off again in Burlington on Sunday with first pitch at 5:30 p.m.
“It can’t go this way all summer, so we’ll see what happens,” Tettleton said.
For more information on 2025 single-game tickets, season tickets, corporate partnerships and group outings, email matt@danvilleotterbots.com or call the Otterbots front office at 434-554-4487. The Danville Otterbots will play their home games at American Legion Field at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.
