TODD HANDLING MULTIPLE ROLES FOR BEARCATS

For most high school baseball teams, especially in smaller classifications, players will be found in multiple positions.

In some seasons there is a particular player who can be found anywhere on the diamond. So far this season for the Bearcats, that has been junior Dylan Todd.

So far this year Todd has been at third base, right field, centerfield, and has logged the second most innings on the pitching staff. He has previously also played second base for the Bearcats.

“It doesn’t really bother me,” Todd said of the position shifts. “I like center field a lot.”

A season ago the utility role was manned by Jace Washburn, but Washburn has been sidelined due to an injury during basketball season.

“With the injury to Jace, Dylan has had to play multiple positions. He has done a great job and has a great attitude while moving him around,” said Bearcat head coach Kimes.

Todd wasted no time in preparing for the 2024 baseball season.

“I went to the fieldhouse on Christmas break and played catch, hit a little bit and did anything I could to get ready,” said Todd.

Regardless of where he is defensively, Todd has been a constant in the top portion of the batting order for the Bearcats.

Todd started the season in the cleanup position but once basketball season ended he has shifted to the second spot.

In the season opener at Northside Todd recorded both the first hit and the first multiple hit game for the Bearcats. At Clarksville he had the first extra-base hit of the year and actually had two doubles in that game.

Todd comes out of spring break hitting .391 with three RBI and a team leading 25 plate appearances.

“I do a lot of drills and hitting off a tee,” said Todd. “Keeping my shoulder in and staying balanced. I had a lot of problems with that last year. I’d get on my front foot.”

His coach has noticed.

“He has grown a lot over the last two years. He has been working hard on fixing his swing and it showed over the first couple of weeks,” said Kimes.

During his 10 innings of work on the mound, Todd has recorded 14 strikeouts with six of them coming on called strikes. Todd has made a team co-leading five appearance, all in relief.

Over the past two seasons Todd threw a combined seven and two thirds innings.

“I play for a travel team out of Lavaca and I pitch quite a bit there,” Todd, who has been playing baseball since tee-ball, said of his increased use as a hurler. “But I’ve got to get my pitching going for us.”

He also played centerfield and pitched for that team.

Besides baseball Todd also played football for the Bearcats, getting a few carries at running back and making 43 tackles, with a sack and an interception on defense.

An honor roll student Todd’s daily class load includes English, family science, economics, environmental science, algebra II, business applications, and athletics.

Todd and the Bearcats are set to return to Conference 3A-4 play at Hackett tomorrow.