Mother Nature had foiled their son Daniel’s scheduled start on Wednesday as the ballgame was cancelled due to inclement weather.

About 15 family members and friends, including the Kanagys who live in McAlisterville, made the drive to Penn State’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to watch the Major League Baseball Draft League contest on Thursday night.

“It was very exciting,” Pam said of the opportunity Daniel’s family and friends to see him pitch. “It’s nice to see all his hard work, miles spent on the road to training and travel ball tournaments pay off. He’s wanted to play at a high level since T-ball.”

Many got to see and visit with Daniel, an East Juniata High School product who was making his third professional start for the Black Bears, after Wednesday’s game had been called off.

Photo courtesy of KANAGY FAMILY
East Juniata High School product Daniel Kanagy, of the West Virginia Black Bears, pitched against State College on Thursday.

Twenty-four hours later, even more family and friends — nearly 20 — returned to the ballpark to see Daniel earn his first professional victory. It was worth the wait as Daniel pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out seven and walking four, as the Black Bears outlasted State College, 10-8, in front of 2,483 fans.

“There was definitely a big crowd there for me, which was pretty awesome,” Daniel said. “It means so much to me to have people coming to support me.” The game marked the start of the second half for each team. The Spikes edged West Virginia by a game for the first-half crown.

“Seeing everyone in the stands there to support me makes me really thankful and makes me realize what an impact you can have on other people,” Daniel added. “It tells me that I must have had some kind of impact on those people’s lives for them to want to come see me throw. And what they don’t realize is the impact they have on me being there to show their support it means a lot.”

The fact that it was his first professional victory made it even more special.

Daniel breezed through the first five innings, allowing a run in the bottom of the first on Chenar Brown’s sacrifice fly. By that point, his Black Bear teammates had given Daniel a four-run lead to work with as Judah Morris belted a three-run home run to centerfield and Jake Berg smacked an RBI single.

Daniel Kanagy

West Virginia built a commanding 9-2 lead by the fifth before the Spikes got to Daniel for five runs in the sixth. A run-scoring single by Jakobi Davis made it a 9-3 game and another walk loaded the bases, ending Daniel’s night at 110 pitches. He threw 66 of those for strikes.

Another bases-loaded walk and passed ball brought State College to within 9-5. Cole Caruso’s two-run single closed out the rally. The Spikes added one more run in the eighth to make it a 9-8 game before the Black Bears rebounded for a run in the top of the ninth on a Jordan Peyton fielder’s choice.

The Spikes went quietly in the ninth, with Davis striking out to end the game. And a night many won’t forget, especially Mom and Dad.

“To get his win in front of PA fans was cool,” Pamela said. “We have confidence in his abilities and know he is going to give it his all, but the nerves definitely creep in during certain games.”

Offensively, Morris, Jordan Peyton and Alex Rodgers each finished with three hits as West Virginia outhit the Spikes, 15-9. Caruso had four hits for State College.

Photo courtesy of KANAGY FAMILY
East Juniata High School product Daniel Kanagy, of the West Virginia Black Bears, gets a sign before delivering a pitch on Thursday.