Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991 TAG: 9103290341
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Now a senior, the Knights' infielder has been a starter since he was a freshman. He was the designated hitter that year; then as a sophomore he moved to shortstop, where he's been a fixture.
In that time, he's done well enough to earn a full baseball scholarship to Virginia Tech and make All-Timesland as a junior.
At the same time, he may be one of Cave Spring's top soccer players. Yet, it's not likely too many people know about that.
Dalton plays on the Select team each fall in baseball's off-season. When spring comes, though, his heart and body is with the Knights' baseball team and soccer is forgotten.
"The [soccer] coach talked to me about playing, but I told him baseball is my sport," said Dalton, who is a sweeper in soccer. "I always played recreation soccer, but I wasn't going to let it affect my baseball."
Dalton says his soccer career is over. Next fall he'll be playing baseball for Virginia Tech and hoping to improve on some amazing statistics that he's racked up in high school.
The Knights' infielder had a .371 average going into this spring, with seven homers, 42 RBI, 16 doubles and four triples in 62 career games. Those figures went up significantly last year when Dalton enjoyed his best year ever with a .458 batting average while driving in 29 runs.
"Dee was physically stronger," Cave Spring baseball coach Roger White said. "There was 100 percent improvement in his strength.
"Whereas he was getting singles and doubles as a freshman and sophomore, now he's hitting line-drive doubles and triples."
Like all top-notch athletes, hard work has paid off for Dalton. "We'll practice three hours a day and then he'll stay and hit 50 extra balls or take extra grounders," said White.
As good as all this seems to be, there is a problem if Dalton is to match last year's statistics. It's called the intentional walk, or pitching around a hitter.
"I really haven't noticed them doing that any more than last year," said Dalton.
But White realizes there could be a problem. "If we can't find someone to hit behind Dee, other teams will pitch around him. They did that at Halifax County," said White.
"We had a runner on second base with two outs and they walked him intentionally. Everyone has talked about that [strategy] this year. I've got to come up with someone who can hit the ball behind him."
Last year, catcher Jason St. Clair was called on for that duty. This year, it'll be either Steve Driscoll or Mark Schwartz.
"They walked him about four times and Jason would come up with a homer or the big hit," recalled White about last year.
Dalton added: "They really didn't pitch around me until the end of the year last spring."
Whereas this could be a detriment in high school where choices are limited for coming up with a hitter to help Dalton, going to Tech next year might help.
"Dee is the kind of kid who when he gets around other people with talent, it'll bring his talent out more," White said. "That's why I feel he'll be able to adjust and do fine in college."
The Knights' shortstop signed with Virginia Tech this past fall. "Coach [Chuck] Hartman told me a couple of weeks before early signing they were offering me a full ride. It didn't take me long to accept. We had talked since I was a junior," said the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Dalton.
White says Georgia Tech and Clemson also showed an interest. "Both were recruiting him heavily. [Georgia] Tech signed another guy from down there and backed off, but Clemson was still interested."
Dalton feels he'll be playing either second or short at Tech. "Coach Hartman said their second baseman graduates this year and their shortstop will be a senior next year," Dalton explained.
There is always pro baseball, even the possibility of being drafted this year.
"I would like to try pro baseball, but there's a lot of competition," said Dalton, who plans to major in business at Virginia Tech.
"I never get tired of baseball. I've been surprised at my success, but I practiced hard. I guess I thought the pitching would be a little more overpowering [in high school] and in certain cases it has."
"There's a chance he could be drafted this year, but I don't think he'd bypass college," White said. "He wants to get an education.
"The pro scouts like his arm and speed. He's got real good hands and his bat speed is excellent. He's one of those type players you get every now and then. He's that good.
"There are a lot of good baseball players in the state, but I'd have to think he's one of the best because of his physical strength and fielding," said White.
by CNB