DANVILLE — Most high school seniors want to sit around the pool and hang out with their friends in the summer before their first semester of college.
It might be a last chance to form long-lasting memories before they embark on new endeavors.
Danville Dans infielder/outfielder Tate Middleton is spending his summer playing in the Prospect League before attending Auburn University this fall.
“It’s been a great year,’’ Middleton said. “I had a good year in school, we won state.
“Coming here has definitely been an adjustment, and I think I’m doing good right now.’’
Middleton, who is from Columbus, Ga., had some ups and downs in his first few weeks with the Dans, hitting just. 196, with no extra base hits and just 2 RBIs in his first five weeks.
Tuesday night, he went 1-for-3 with three RBIs as the Dans defeated the Johnstown Mill Rats 6-3 before 2,032 at Danville Stadium.
“He is swinging the bat well,’’ said Danville Dans manager Eric Coleman, noting that Middleton had the game-tying run-scoring hit in Sunday’s win over Champion City. “That’s why he is going to Auburn and will be playing in the SEC.’’
Middleton has been hitting .371 with 10 RBIs since June 25th for the Dans.
“I’m seeing the ball a lot better,’’ he said. “Just putting the barrel on the ball.’’
Sounds simple enough, but it’s all been a part of the process of going from high school baseball in the spring to a collegiate wooden bat league in the summer.
“The hardest part is the game being a little bit faster,’’ said Coleman. “It’s kind of like when guys get drafted into professional baseball or when a minor league player gets called to the show. The game is just a little bit faster, like from high school to college.
“Being here this summer kind of prepares him for what he is going to see this fall at Auburn. It’s still going to be faster when he gets into the SEC, but getting at-bats this summer will be good for him and hopefully, it carries over to Auburn.’’
Middleton isn’t the first high school senior to play for the Danville Dans in the past decade. He joins guys like Josh Smith, who is now with the Texas Rangers, Gavin Dugas, a minor leaguer with the Washington Nationals, and Paxton Kling, who has recently transferred to Penn State.
“That’s part of what we do here in Danville,’’ Coleman said. “We are developing him to play at the next level. When you get that development, the winning will take care of itself.’’
This is also not Middleton’s first summer of playing in a wooden bat league, but it is his first playing against collegiate players.
“I played travel ball all my life with wooden bats, so that wasn’t a big deal,’’ he said. “Being with a bunch of college guys and older guys was different.
“The main thing that I wanted to do here this summer was get regular at-bats.’’
Coleman says he believes maturity and getting those at-bats have allowed Middleton to develop this summer.
“There is a reason that Auburn sent him here,’’ he said. “They trust us with him and it’s been a good fit.
“I hoping he can be an impact guy at Auburn next year.’’
While Middleton was providing the offense in Tuesday’s victory, Brendan Clarke, a right-hander from St. Leo University, went five innings to get the victory, allowing three runs — only one was earned — while striking out six and walking one.
“He just gave up that one crooked inning,’’ Coleman said. “He moved the ball well around the strike zone and he kept them off balance.
“It was enough for us to scratch, claw and come up with a win.’’
Griffin Hallahan and Gunnar Brown followed with scoreless innings of relief, while Austin Morris picked up his fifth save of the summer with two scoreless innings of relief.
The Dans had seven hits in the victory with shortstop Sebastian Arguelles going 2-for-5 with an RBI double.
Ironically, Tuesday’s game was played with just one umpire. JR Hodges not only handled all the calls behind the plate, but he also took care of the bases as well.
Danville is back home this Friday with a doubleheader against Dubois County. The two seven-inning games will start at 6 p.m. Friday is also Happy Hour Night at the Ballpark with $1 off all adult beverages from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Schedule change
The Danville Dans were scheduled to host the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp on Monday at Danville Stadium, but because of a Prospect League scheduling conflict that game has been postponed. The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Tuesday, July 23, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.