Braves roster features new, familiar faces

Danville Braves manager Paul Runge enters his sixth season with the team when the D-Braves open their 2009 Appalachian League schedule at 7 p.m. today at Pulaski, and the longtime skipper is confident his bunch can start fast.

The roster, released Sunday, contains 12 draftees from the 2009 class and several familiar faces from last year, when the D-Braves put together their seventh consecutive winning season, finishing 35-32 and fifth in the Appy League.

“Unfortunately, these guys, you’d like to see them with one of our full-season clubs at this point in time, but they’re not and you can’t cry over spilled milk,” Runge said during the annual Meet the D-Braves Night on Monday at the Danville Community Market. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Danville.

“Some of these guys needed to improve in some areas of their game,” Runge said. “They came back to Orlando, they went through extended spring training and hopefully they’re all better players and hopefully they’ll get an opportunity to demonstrate that while they’re here in Danville.”

The D-Braves follow a six-game, season-opening road trip by hosting the Kingsport Mets for their regular season home opener on June 29. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Danville Braves magnet schedule on opening night. The first homestand also features a post-game fireworks show on July 3.

“Last year we blew a little lead, Pulaski won 10 games in a row, we didn’t hit too good, we didn’t field too good, so we’re looking to turn it around and we have a good staff coming in,” returning outfielder L.V. Ware said. “This year is just going to be a good year. I’ve got a good feeling about it.”

The D-Braves roster includes 30 players, including 13 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders and five outfielders.

Runge’s staff includes two second-year coaches, hitting coach Carlos Mendez and pitching coach Derrick Lewis. The strength coach is Chris Lucci and the trainer is Ty Cobbs, both of whom are in their first season with the D-Braves.

“That’s really nice, because ultimately our goal is to win a championship and you have to have good team chemistry to do that,” returning pitcher Cody Railsback said about so many coaches and players returning from last year’s team. “With all the returning players that we have and the returning coaching staff, I think we have a really good shot.”