DANVILLE, Va. - The first game of a seven-game homestand for the Danville Otterbots ended in victory Tuesday night, as they handed the Bluefield Ridge Runners a defeat while securing their 15th win, 6-1.
It featured a little of everything. Starting pitcher Brandon Jung’s performance was a huge highlight. The Florida Southern product went six innings, throwing 102 pitches of three-hit baseball and securing seven strikeouts. He collected his second win of the season, lowering his ERA to 4.01.
“The kid has worked hard,” Danville manager Mickey Tettleton said. “He’s shown up every day and has done what he has been asked to do. It’s still fun to see them perform well when they don’t have their best stuff.”
Relievers Clayton Cooksey (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K) and Michael Daniel (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) assisted in the five-run victory.
On the offensive side, it was a group effort. Second baseman Mason Pangborn led off the game with a single and eventually came around to score on designated hitter Garrett Shull’s RBI single. Fast forward to the third, the Bots plated two more: third baseman Jaxon Goldberg scored on center fielder Elgin Bennett’s RBI double, and Bennett scored later on a wild pitch by Bluefield starter Jacobie Smith.
In the seventh inning, Bennett and left fielder Bruce Wyche occupied first and second base with nobody out. Then back-to-back Bots batters struck out, sending shortstop Seth Smith to the plate. Both Bennett and Wyche came home as Smith smacked the second pitch he saw to right field, tucking it perfectly within the foul line.
“I really didn’t think it was going to be fair,” Smith said with a smirk. “I wasn’t really hustling out of the box.”
The double increased the Bots’ lead to four. Smith eventually crossed home on first baseman Aimon Chandler’s single in the following at-bat.
Everyone on the field had a part in the win. Tettleton enjoyed watching the togetherness of his group from the top step of the home dugout.
“It’s pretty cool to see everything offensively,” he said. “That’s a lineup that you can put together that can score some runs. The kids have been great. That’s all I can ask.”
“It’s a lot of fun when you’ve got guys that can throw in the zone and get balls in play,” Smith said. “It’s a lot of fun playing defense. I love playing defense.”
Smith and the Bots look to play defense and the role of catalyst again against Bluefield on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. It is Waggy Wednesday at American Legion Field, so bring your pup out to bark the Bots to victory.
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.
