Long-time friends, springtime foes

Matt Rock / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: August 2, 2007

Dillon Sheads and Danny Crane play on opposing college teams in the spring, and then become teammates during the summer on the Culpeper Red Devils.

But that's just the beginning.

The two have been playing on the diamond together since they were 13 years old on the Central Virginia Sting travel team.
"I've known Dillon since I was 9 years old," Crane said. "So much fun playing with your best friend."

It wasn't even baseball that started the long-time friendship between the two.

"Actually my family and Dillon's family both went to Jefferson Baptist Church," Danny's father Jeff Crane said. "They became friends through church and started hanging out together."

The two played on the Sting together for five years, traveling up and down the east coast including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and North Carolina, according to Jeff Crane.

After graduating from Culpeper County High School in 2005, the two went their separate ways. Sheads went to Randolph-Macon College while Crane went to Concord University.
After a year at Concord, Crane transferred to Chris-topher Newport University.

"It was pretty nice because he did go four hours away then he moved to a school we play," Sheads said.

Despite both going to different colleges, the pair still keeps close. Sheads held a surprise cookout for Crane's 20th birthday recently, and both hunt and fish together, according to the elder Crane.

Sheads is the closer for the Yellow Jackets. According to the R-MC website, the lefty led the team in appearances, had 18 strikeouts and a 4.32 ERA while compiling five saves and a team-leading record of 4-1.

The Captains and the Jackets split their games during the 2007 season, with each team winning on the road. Sheads and Crane never faced each other.

"I'm sure if I face him or he faces me there's going to something going on there," Crane said. "One of us has to come out on top."

The Chemistry Factor
The friendship between Sheads and Crane isn't the first in the history of the Red Devils.

"We've been fortunate to have several groups of players in the mold, Dillon and Danny just happen to be the newest version," Culpeper manager Jim Rutkowski said. "That has made coaching this team fun and, in some respect, easier."

Though Rutkowski knows that to translate to on-field play, the clubhouse can't be divided.

"It is important if it translates onto the field but it must be shared by the group and not just a few individuals or groups of individuals," Rutkowski said.

The relationships the Red Devils have shared have turned into championships in the past.

"Chemistry throughout the team is always underestimated," Rutkowski said. "The years we've won championships, the chemistry was very strong and there were vocal leaders on the team."

With playoffs starting tomorrow, the only question is if the relationships on the 2007 squad can contribute to another Apple Valley League Championship.

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