‘He threw another gem’: Raiders right-hander Dance delivers by shutting down Saints

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In the moments after the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided they’d play Monday’s Class 2A super-sectional as planned, senior designated hitter Alex Connoyer stood in front of Tyler Dance, leaned in so they were nearly nose-to-nose and delivered a strong message.

“Use all the emotion,” Connoyer told his teammate. “Let it make you be great.”

Senior first baseman Dalton Miller told Dance nearly the same thing.

“I told him before the game there’s no one better than him, there’s no one better to throw this game,” Miller said. “I said, ‘You’re the guy. Rise to the occasion.’ And he did.”

Dance had no other choice. Tucker Tollerton was counting on him.

Roughly 36 hours after many of the Raiders learned of Tollerton’s tragic death — the QND starting center fielder was killed Saturday night in a single-vehicle rollover accident  — they had to take the field to face Bloomington Central Catholic for a spot in the final four.

Dance knew he was getting the start, which meant being locked in and ready no matter what was transpiring around him.

“Nothing can get in your way,” Dance said. “Nothing can bother you.”

Nothing did. He allowed an infield single to Saints leadoff hitter Jarrett Wieduwilt and surrendered an unearned run in the first inning, but reacted with vengeance. Dance struck out two, walked one and tossed a five-inning one-hitter in the 13-1 victory over the Saints.

“He was Trout,” said senior Jake Schisler, who started in center field and referenced Dance by his nickname. “He did what Trout does. He threw another gem. That’s what he’s going to do.”

He’ll get to do it one more time in what could be the biggest game ever.

Schisler, a right-hander with an 8-0 record and 1.07 ERA, is slated to start Friday’s state semifinal against Joliet Catholic at Dozer Park in Peoria. It means Dance, who is 10-0 with a 0.79 ERA, would start Saturday’s state championship game.

The Raiders expect Dance to perform at a high level.

“He always does,” Miller said. 

The John Wood Community College signee threw only 62 pitches with 41 for strikes as he consistently worked ahead and relied on his defense to make plays. Junior second baseman Nolan Robb made a pair of diving plays, and the infield’s solid play allowed Dance to pitch to contact.

With his curveball working, he knew the contact wouldn’t be laser beams.

“I didn’t have it last week or the last couple games,” Dance said. “But I had my curveball today, and it was effective.”