Anderson raking and baking for Eagles
Holliday senior Dalton Anderson is poised for another dominant season for Holliday. After earning a spot on the Archer County News’ Diamond Dozen squad for 2021, Anderson is primed to build off last year’s success.
As a junior, he hit .405 with five doubles, four triples and three homers while driving in 26 and scoring 23 runs. He posted a blistering OPS (on-base+slugging pct.) of 1.286 while logging a 4-1 record on the mound with a 1.27 ERA. In 22 innings, he allowed just four earned runs while striking out 17 and walking five.
The game started slowing down for the Eagles’ senior around sixth grade when he started to drive the ball into the gaps and eventually hitting home runs. His powerful swing progressed from there.
“Dalton is a great player for us,” Holliday head coach Brad Blassingame said. “He’s one of the leaders on the team as a senior with experience. He knows what I ask of the team. I expect him this year to be our anchor in the lineup, somewhere in the middle of the order, that can hit for power and rack up a lot of RBI.”
While Anderson confesses first base is his first love, he does enjoy toeing the rubber.
“I’ve always played first,” he said. “I think that’s why I love this sport. Pitching is really fun. I love to get up on the mound, throwing all the different pitches and trying to get them to strike out. First is always fun, digging balls and trying to be a wall out there.”
When he’s not hitting bombs on the baseball diamond, he enjoys spending time in the kitchen baking. His cinnamon rolls are award winning.
While that may come as a surprise to many, Anderson hopes to one day own and operate his own bakery.
Despite his future plans, the senior still has something cooking up for the Eagles this season.
“Making it to state is definitely a team goal of ours but first we’re trying to be district champs,” Anderson said. “We want to be the best team we can be and win as many games as possible. Personally, I’m working to improve on my stats from last year and see where it takes me.”
When his playing career is finally over, Anderson simply wants his legacy to be someone who laid it all on the line for his team.
“I want to be remembered as someone who always gave 100%. Someone that always played their hardest and gave it their all. I’m trying to be a good kid and student.”
Through six games this season, Anderson is hitting at a .286 clip with a double, two RBI and six runs scored. He’s posted a 2-0 record on the mound, allowing one run on seven hits with 20 strikeouts to just four walks over 13.0 innings. In his most recent outing, he scattered four hits in a complete game shutout of Peaster with eight strikeouts.
