Published: July 23, 2008 07:43 am         

Junior Speakers make a date at State

Danville rallies to beat Champaign

DANVILLE — Every teenager wishes his or her parents would just be quiet at certain stages of life.

Casey Fletcher, the right fielder for the Danville Post 210 Junior Speakers Gold team, experienced one of those situations on Tuesday.

Danville and Champaign Red was tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Junior Speakers Gold had the potential winning run standing on third base.

That’s when Fletcher’s father, former major league catcher Darrin Fletcher, started yelling words of encouragement.

“He was harassing me so bad. ‘Get the head up. Get the head up. Get the foot down.’ He was telling me so much instruction — I just wanted to get a hit to shut him up,’’ Casey Fletcher said.

The left-handed batter did exactly what his dad told him as he laced a single to right, bringing home Danville’s Jonathan Haley with the winning run in the Junior Speakers Gold 6-5 victory.

“I was pulling off a lot and I wasn’t getting my foot down or something,’’ said Fletcher of his four previous at-bats, all of which ended with groundouts. “I put my foot down a little earlier and I came through.’’

Fletcher’s hit capped Danville’s six-run comeback as Champaign built a 5-0 lead after five innings.

“To be honest, I didn’t know if we could come back,’’ Fletcher said. “They put it to us pretty early, and I’m just thankful we did come back.’’

While Fletcher had some concerns, winning pitcher Cody Burton, who tossed 3– innings of scoreless relief, said he knew all along that the Junior Speakers would come back and win.

“Actually, I knew we would come back,’’ said Burton, who got a save in Danville’s win over Kansas on Saturday. “We have been a good team all year, and we’ve come-from-behind in a lot of games.’’

Not did Burton keep Champaign from scoring after the fifth inning, he also provided some offense in the sixth inning.

With Champaign leading 5-1, Burton delivered a two-run single to center as part of a four-run sixth inning for Danville (26-5).

“I haven’t gotten that many at-bats this year, because I’ve been pitching in relief,’’ Burton said. “But, I came through at the right time for my team.’’

According to Danville coach Sloan Anderson that is what he expects from Burton.

“He is a kid that is going to compete every time he steps onto the field,’’ Anderson said.

Two batters later, the Junior Speakers tied the contest at 5-5 when shortstop Zane Dillon laid down a perfect bunt.

Champaign’s Ryan Martin fielded the bunt and threw the ball down the right-field line allowing Burton and Haley to score on the play.

“When Zane got the bunt down and their guy threw it to first base and there was no one there. That was the big turning point,’’ Fletcher said.

Haley, who had a rare stolen base in the eighth inning, scored three of the six runs for Danville.

According to Anderson, the Junior Speakers just needed to get offense going after falling behind 5-0.

“We started getting guys on base and then we could play our game with the hit-and-runs and the bunts,’’ Anderson said. “ That is what we have done all year. When we do that — we win.’’

Danville will now play Decatur in the Fourth Division Tournament Championship game in Mount Zion on Thursday.

Both teams are guaranteed spots in next week’s state tournament in Metropolis.