Players Make Appearance On Our Daily Show! Alton River Dragons Open At Home On Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Our Daily Show! Alton River Dragon Spotlight: Miles Nelson & Brandon Gour

ALTON - Miles Nelson and Brandon Gour, two of the oldest players on the Alton River Dragons roster and both returners from last season, are preparing for the team’s Tuesday, June 3, 2026, season opener by leaning on past summer ball experience and helping newer teammates adjust to the demands of the Prospect League schedule.

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The two spoke about the upcoming season and the home opener during an appearance on “Our Daily Show” with host C.J. Nasello. The River Dragons open their home season at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2026, at Hopkins Field at Gordon Moore Park against Dubois County. Gates open at 5:45 p.m.

For Nelson and Gour, the start of the season brings a familiar routine shaped by long days, travel, and recovery in a 56-game schedule.

“We play every day but Monday,” Nelson said. “Sometimes it is tough to fall asleep after games. You wake up at 10 or 11 a lot of times. It’s not your fault. You have to love baseball to do it and we both love playing baseball.”

Gour said staying on schedule is important.

“Overall, it is pretty relaxed; we play a 56-game schedule. You do have to take care of your body over the season."

Both said earlier summer ball experiences helped prepare them for this season.

The Prospect League’s pace can mean late nights and short turnarounds. Nelson recalled one weather-delayed game in Danville.

“Last summer during a game, it rained all night in Danville,” he said. “The game finished at 2 a.m. because of the rain, and we didn't get back until 5 in the morning; the bus leaves at 9 a.m. The next day we scored 18 runs.”

He said the league also tests players mentally.

“Facing all these big-name guys, you have to know you are at the same level,” Nelson said.

Some of their strongest memories from summer ball came in front of large crowds. Gour pointed to a Fourth of July game in Johnstown.

“Fourth of July, Johnstown, 8,000 people, awesome experience,” he said. “It set the tone for the whole summer.”

Nelson described a similar moment.

“The first year was awesome for me,” he said. “We played in front of 8,000 people on my second start, one of the coolest experiences I have had.”

Gour added, “I second that. Having the wave go around you is awesome.”

As veteran players, both said they want to help younger teammates settle in and build confidence.

Nelson said part of that is reminding teammates they earned their place.

“Knowing you belong in the league for a reason and can perform well,” he said, “and want to boost other guys' confidence.”

Both also praised the support they have received from the River Dragons.

“Steve and Jared are both awesome,” both players said.

Gour said, “The River Dragons get a lot of support. Steve and Jared, unlike a lot of owners in summer ball, do a good job of taking care of us. Tip my cap.”

The club’s home opener against Dubois County will include a magnetic schedule giveaway and postgame fireworks. After opening the season with six road games, Alton returns home for eight of its next 11 games.

The team’s 2026 roster includes five returners from 2025: infielders Charlie Berry, Gour, Ryan Kondrad and Nelson, along with catcher Sean McConachie. Jarrod Brissenden returns for his second season as field manager, joined by first-year pitching coach Andrew Olney.

Through the first week, Ryan Hartz leads the team with six hits, and Adam Moster has seven steals. Greyson Rathgeb’s home run on May 27 was the first home run of the Prospect League season. Ethan Wielt reached base in 10 of 11 plate appearances in the series at Jackson.

Looking ahead, one of the players said, “I hope we get to know how we respond to adversity.”

River Dragons Are Back Home After Road Trip

The home opener comes after the River Dragons wrapped up their road trip Sunday night with a 12-2, seven-inning loss to the Jackson Rockabillys in Tennessee.

In that game, Ethan Wielt doubled and walked twice to reach base three times, while Brandon Wise also reached base three times with a single and two walks. Jackson took a 4-0 lead in the first inning before Alton answered with two runs in the second on bases-loaded walks to Charlie Renco and Ryan Hartz, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

That was as close as the River Dragons got. Jackson scored despite being held to four hits, taking advantage of four Alton errors.

Earlier in the series, the River Dragons allowed one Rockabilly run over nearly four innings and scored first when Adam Moser drove in Charlie Renco. That game was delayed in the bottom of the fourth inning because of rain and later suspended. It is scheduled to continue at 6 p.m. CDT, followed by another seven-inning game.

Alton opened the season with a 7-6 loss to the Quincy Doggy Paddlers. The River Dragons scored three runs in the ninth inning but finished one run short of extending the game.

Alton outhit Quincy 11-8 in the opener. Left fielder Greyson Rathgeb hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, the first home run of the season for Alton and for the Prospect League. He also walked twice and scored in the ninth.

Ryan Hartz, Adam Moser, Griffin Kelly and Brandon Gour each had two hits in the opener. Miles Nelson, Sean McConachie and Rathgeb accounted for the other three hits. The other four RBIs went to Hartz, Moser, McConachie and Gour. The River Dragons struck out 15 times.

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