Danville Post 325 overpowers Martinsville 11-1

Travis Coates gave Danville Post 325 a much-needed stellar pitching performance and the offense exploded for six rungs in the final frame to defeat Martinsville Post 42, 11-1, in seven innings Monday at Dan Daniel Park.

The win assures Danville (12-8, 9-4) of the No. 3 seed in the upcoming district tournament after winning four consecutive games in as many days. Danville will play a team to be determined at 9 a.m. Saturday at Kiwanis Park in Salem.

“He came through tonight like a charm,” Danville Post 325 coach John Bailey said. “We knew coming into tonight that we were throwing Johnny All-Staff and we gave him in the ball. He pitched a helluva ball game.”

Coates, a George Washington High product, pitched a gem, allowing three hits and surrendering one run to pick up the victory. His lone blemish was a second inning home run that he gave up to Martinsville shortstop Jake Joyce.

“It was just a good day for me,” Coates said. “When I started throwing in the pen, I knew it. I knew we were going to beat these guy, but didn’t know it was going to be this great. I had great control on every pitch, I could put it wherever I wanted. I felt so great tonight.”

Coates turned into GW’s ace in his senior season, going 8-3 on the mound with two saves and a 2.50 ERA. He was named to the All-Western Valley District first team and will attend Danville Community College in the fall.

In the seventh inning, Danville sent nine batters to the plate and all nine reached base. The offense rattled off seven hits and the top six batters in the lineup scored, as James Feldmann scored the game’s final run after Kaleb Long hit the ball over the drawn-in outfield for his second RBI of the game on his third hit.

The rally was similar to Sunday night’s come-from-behind victory over Lynchburg Post 16. Trailing 10-7 heading into the top of the ninth inning, Danville scored 10 runs on five hits to break through and win 17-11.

While it was not as intense as Sunday’s performance, the offense was clicking after Morgan Boles kept Danville in check for six innings. The right hander gave up five runs on 12 hits and struck out six.

Roy Morgan faced six of the nine batters in the seventh, giving up five hits and a walk. He was credited with all six runs in the inning after Jacob Smith gave up two hits and a walk.

“We had a real good night,” said Tyler Younger, who went 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. “I know I was seeing the ball well at the plate and it seemed like everyone else was too.”

Danville started the weekend with an 11-8 victory over Rocky Mount at Ferrum College on Friday behind two Brett Hylton solo home runs. Post 325 scored four runs in the ninth inning for the winning runs. Gavin Hylton added a home run and Feldmann rattled off another three hits.

Saturday’s game at Roanoke Post 3 was much easier, a 13-1 rout in seven innings. Kyle Long had three hits and Younger went 3-for-4 with a home run.

“We knew we needed to play well to get a higher seed in the tournament,” Younger said, “and we come out and we’ve been smoking the ball the last four games and it’s worked out for us.”

Jacob Yates went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored Monday night. Gavin Hylton added two doubles and two runs and James Feldmann scored two runs and drove in two more.

“We’re gelling offensively at the right time,” Bailey said. “The thing that bothers me is our pitching staff. We have got to throw strikes and Travis gave us a big shot in the arm tonight.”