This summer the Danville Otterbots will add a second baseball team that will also play in the southern Virginia town the Danville Dairy Daddies. They will play in the collegiate summer level Old North State League. The nickname and a suite of logos highlighted by a hunky bull character pay tribute to Danville’s history.
“Initially, it is a tribute to what is still the most important economic sector here throughout southern Virginia, which is agriculture,” said general manager Austin Scher. “There are families and generations of families in Danville and southern Virginia who went to school or church or played youth sports with dairy farmers or the offspring of dairy farmers, or who grew up, if not on a dairy farm, then right next door.”
With this new team being created in Danville it opens opportunities for Averett’s baseball players to get access to play for the Old North State League.
“It is very exciting to know that I get to stay in Danville and to be able to continue to refine my skills in baseball with this opportunity,” Sophomore Averett baseball infielder Trevor Testerman said.”
Since the announcement of the team on February 28th the buzz on social media, news stations, and newspapers has attracted a lot of attention to the team. They were even brought up on big stations like ESPN and WDBJ7.
“I am most excited about being able to play in front of the fans in Danville,” Testerman said. “Especially the way that this team has blown up, I think the atmosphere will be electric! It’s going to be really fun!”
While the team is advancing in the media, they are also allowing players to get opportunities to continue to play baseball over the summer.
“The biggest benefit for playing with the Dairy Daddies is obviously the ability to continue to get better and develop into the player that I want to be,” Testerman said. “Being able to strive towards the goals and aspirations I have from a baseball perspective is really important for me and this opportunity offers this and then some.”
The team name ‘The Danville Dairy Daddies’ has had different perspectives across Danville.
“The team name presents the idea they’re going for the comedic factor,” Senior Averett baseball pitcher Shane Michel said. ‘They want this to be a fun outlook on baseball and the fan experience behind the sport.”
The Dairy Daddies will be sharing the home field with the Danville Otterbots. The team is set to start playing in early May with fans, players, and coaches all excited to see what this team is about.
