Photo by Kevin Nagle
The bomb at Baum — anyone who was there (particularly the guy that smacked it) will remember it for a long time. It was prodigious blast, one that sailed over the wall in left-center at the University of Arkansas baseball stadium, between the bullpen and centerfield. No doubt, as time passes, the distance will grow farther and farther.
The blast provided a punctuation mark — and exclamation point — to the Bryant Hornets’ stunning 10-0 romp over the favored Fayetteville Bulldogs, the defending Class 7A State champs who were playing in their own backyard.
And it was the first varsity home run in senior Dalton Holt’s career. Holt’s bolt.
“It felt pretty good,” he admits, “especially off a (future) Razorback pitcher (Kyle Pate).”
Now with his senior season over and the American Legion campaign entering its final stages — with a chance at a World Series — it turns out Holt’s baseball career will be extended to college after he signed a letter of intent with the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
“I really liked the campus down there,” he said. “It’s a smaller Division II college. They have a nice baseball field and I really liked the coaches there too. I went to a baseball camp last November. They got to look at a bunch of people. They talked to us towards the end of my high school career.”
The son of Jason and Lori Holt, Dalton joins Bryant teammate Chase Tucker at UAM.
“We went on a visit up at Crowder (Junior College in Neosho, Mo.) but it was farther from home and I just think the UAM baseball program is a better fit,” he said.
Holt finished his senior season hitting .256 (20 of 78) including his 3 for 3 day in the State title game. Eight of his hits went for extra bases. He scored 21 runs and drove in 11 while turning in stellar defense at first. He was named all-conference for the Hornets.
“Our senior year, our whole team, we were a big family,” Holt related. “Towards the end of the year, that’s when it started getting real. I had a couple of hits and pretty much the whole team came together. And we ended it good.”
So far this summer, he’s hitting .274 (34 of 124) but has been hot lately after a late-season slump. Over the Sox’ last four games at the Senior Legion State Tournament, he’s gone 8 for 18 (.444). Overall, he’s scored 28 times and knocked in 26 runs. He’s second on the team in doubles with eight.
He’s also pitched well, going 3-2 with a 2.51 earned run average and 21 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. He’s one of three Hornets whom Bock worked with to turn them into side-arm pitchers in the off-season.
“Holt’s going to end up being a two-way guy,” Bock said. “I don’t know what UAM has as far as infielders but Holt has really worked hard on his delivery as far as his drop-down pitching and he’s made a huge impact on the summer team.
“As far as high school, he didn’t get a lot of chances but he’s gotten more chances in Legion ball and has really made progress,” he added. “I think that’s really where they’re looking at him. Any of those (side-arm) guys that can come in and throw strikes just put pressure on the other team’s offense. I think he’ll have a chance to play early in his career at UAM.
“They’re getting a great first baseman that I don’t play at first base right now,” stated Black Sox manager Darren Hurt. “But he can go out to right field and play out there.
“I tell you, when Dalton figures it out offensively, he’s got so much power,” he continued. “They’re getting a guy that can swing it. He’s got to get a little better mentally. But when he does, he’s going to be good offensively. He can play a couple of positions and I think he can pitch. I think he can be a guy they can use on the mound too.
Regarding his side-arm delivery, Hurt said, “Teams don’t see it a lot. If you’ve got a guy like that and you throw him one time through the order, he’s normally pretty effective.”
Holt said the coaches at UAM didn’t commit to any specific plan for him.
“They don’t know right now if I’m going to be a two-way guy, play first or pitch,” he said. “We’ll have to decide that once I get down there.”
