Dragons win first game of season with heavy hearts

Posted on 11. Apr, 2009 by Corey in Dayton Dragons Baseball, General Baseball.

The baseball world was shocked early Thursday morning when they lost a family member, 22-year old Los Angeles Angels rookie starting pitcher Nick Adenhart.  He was killed hours after his first start of the season when a minivan ran a red light and smashed into the car he was a passenger in.

Just three years ago during the 2006 season, Adenhart pitched for the Angels Class-A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The Cedar Rapids Kernals are members of the Midwest League, and play against the Dayton Dragons.  Although no members of the current Dragons were on that team in 2006, current members of the Dragons took his death to heart.

Dayton starting pitcher Josh Ravin was scheduled to start Friday night’s game against the Great Lakes Loons, the Dragons second game of the season.  Upon arriving at the ballpark, Ravin approached me and asked if there was anything planed in honor of Adenhart.  I told Ravin I would check with the front office to see, and he thanked me for asking.  I asked Ravin if he personally knew Adenhart, and he told me he had never met him, but it was “just a sad story.”

Ravin, who struggled in his stay with the Dragons last season, took the mound following a 15 minute rain delay.  He did not let the overcast and misty skies bother him one bit, as he cruised through six innings scattering three hits while walking one.  Ravin also struck out three batters on way to his first win of the season as the Dragons defeated the Loons 6-1.

Four different Dragons starters banged out two hits apiece as all six Dayton runners were driven in by different players.  By game’s end the Dragons had accumulated 11 team hits to the Loons five.

After exiting the game, Ravin was greeted by high fives and congrats by his Dragon teammates.  Ravin took a seat on the Dayton bench and let out a huge sigh of relief after his fantastic outing.  It was then when I approached Ravin to give him a handshake and a congratulatory hug.  Ravin thanked me and said, “That was for Nick.”  A huge smile appeared on both our faces.

The Dragons will close out the three game series against the Great Lakes Loons Saturday evening as Curtis Partch takes the hill. He will be opposed by Ethan Martin, making his professional debut after being named the High School player of the year last season and becoming the 15th overall pick in the draft in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Following the game the entire Midwest League will take Sunday off, and then the Dragons hit the road for three at Peoria, and four at Ft. Wayne.