The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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August 9, 2010

Dans begin playoffs against Nashville tonight.

BY CHAD DARE Commercial-News

DANVILLE — The keys to success this summer for the Danville Dans have been pitching and defense.

So, it should come as no surprise that those two areas are going to be critical tonight when the Dans host the Nashville Outlaws in the Prospect League’s Central Division playoff game at Danville Stadium.

“We need to throw strikes and play solid defense,’’ Danville manager Steve Bieser said. “If we can do that, I think we will be able to manufacture a few runs and have an opportunity to win the game.’’

The Dans, who won the first half title in the Central Division, are sending right-hander Aaron Brandt to the mound tonight against the Outlaws.

In two previous appearances against Nashville, Brandt has allowed seven runs — only five earned — in 13 innings, while walking two and striking out 10.

“They are a really good hitting team,’’ said Brandt, who is 5-2 this summer for the Dans. “I really proud to get this opportunity in the postseason.

“I love pitching at Danville Stadium, especially with the great support that we’ve received all year from the fans.’’

The Outlaws, the second-half champions, have a .267 team batting average and they aver 5.5 runs per game.

“We don’t want this to be a high-scoring game,’’ Bieser said. “I really think the key is eliminating the big inning for them. They have a high-powered offense that is capable of putting multiple runs in an inning.’’

Both teams are coming into tonight’s game off of losses in their season finales.

Terre Haute beat Danville 6-2 on Saturday night, while Dubois County defeated Nashville 8-6 giving the Dans homefield advantage in tonight’s single-game playoff.

Brandt said the Dans learned a lesson on Saturday night.

“We were pressing and we played very uptight,’’ he said. “As coach Bieser told us afterwards, we needed to stay loose and have some fun.

“For me, I’m approaching this game just like any other game this season. That is what got me here and it what I do best.’’

Bieser figures that Nashville will counter with Taylor Haydel (5-2, 2.79 ERA).

The right-hander from Western Kentucky University got the victory in the Outlaws’ 15-4 win over the Dans at Danville Stadium on July 14th.

Haydel allowed just two runs over six innings, while walking none and striking out just one.

“We have faced their guy and he did a good job against us,’’ Bieser said. “We will have a different approach against him this time.

“He is a strike thrower and I think we can put some pressure on him.’’

Infielder Kevin Smith leads the Nashville attack with a .366 batting average, best in the Prospect League, while catcher Doug Joyce has hit five homers and drove in 36 runs this season.

Danville’s offense will counter with Jesse Tierney, who hit .344 this summer and he shares the team-lead in RBIs (22) with Bryan Haar and John Hogan.

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