News release by Danville Baseball Club
A new era of baseball and entertainment for Danville and the Southside will officially begin on Thursday, June 3rd a t American Legion Post 325 Field in Dan Daniel Memorial Park, when Danville hosts Opening Night of the 2021 Appalachian League season. The Appalachian League, powered by USA Baseball and Major League Baseball, features a 54-game season that will showcase the nation’s top freshman and sophomore baseball prospects.
The soon-to-be rebranded Danville Baseball Club will host 27 home games from June - August, providing unique and unmatched, affordable, memorable, family-friendly entertainment for all members of the community. The fan-friendly schedule features 21 of 27 home games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday dates, including an Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 3rd. The team’s full promotional schedule is forthcoming.
“After more than 18 months without fans in the ballpark, we could not be more excited to open the 2021 Appy League season here at home, setting the stage for a summer of memory making unlike any seen before,” said General Manager, Austin Scher. “This is a phenomenally exciting time to be a baseball fan from the Southside, and to a part of this community. June 3rd can’t get here fast enough!”
Danville Baseball Club continues to prioritize the health and safety of our fans and community, complying with all state and federal ordinances and preparing the ballpark as a COVID-safe environment per recommendations of public health officials.
Fans can contact Danville Baseball Club for more information on the 2021 season, season ticket plans, and partnership opportunities at 434-554-4487, or at danvillebaseball21@gmail.com.
About the Appalachian League : The Appalachian League is a summer collegiate baseball league that is part of t he MLB and USA Baseball Prospect Development Pipeline, a pathway for amateur baseball players in the United States, and will also be an integral part of the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and other future national teams.
The League is comprised of 10 Clubs in deep in the heart of the Appalachia Region of the United States: Bluefield, Virginia and West Virginia; Bristol, Virginia; Burlington, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Elizabethton, Tennessee; Greeneville, Tennessee; Johnson City, Tennessee; Kingston, Tennessee; Princeton, West Virginia; and Pulaski, Virginia.
The Appalachian League is one of the longest-running baseball leagues in the history of professional baseball. It began in 1911, however disbanded in the middle of the 1914 season. The league reformed in 1921 before again closing midway through 1925. A third iteration of the Appalachian League started in 1937 and found success paying during World War II while other Minor Leagues ceased operations before once again folding in 1955.
The modern Appalachian League began in 1957, its first year as a short-season league for Minor League Baseball, and has now undergone a new transformation in 2021 as it becomes a summer collegiate baseball league in partnership with MLB and USA Baseball.
About Danville Baseball Club, LLC : As of January, 2021, Danville Baseball Club, LLC and The City of Danville have entered into a long-term MOU to lease American Legion Post 325 Stadium in Danville, V A.
Danville Baseball Club, LLC is part of Knuckleball Entertainment, which also owns and operates Burlington Baseball (NC) of the Appalachian League. The group is owned by Brittany and Ryan Keur. Ryan Keur had previously been the Appalachian League Executive of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016. In 2017, Keur was named the 2017 Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year by both Baseball America and Ballpark Digest.