FEATURE: Poly junior Dylan McDowell dominates on the field as well as in the classroom.
By Scott Field, Staff Writer
Poly’s varsity baseball team had a strong start early in their season. With a 3-1 record, the boys now look to keep their hot streak going. Dylan McDowell (11) plays a key role in the team’s success. As one of the team’s top pitchers with a .333 batting average, McDowell is a premiere competitor and hopes to play an even bigger role on the team as a senior next year. As a junior, McDowell still has time before deciding where he wants to play college ball; however, scouts from numerous colleges have already begun to show interest in his abilities. “Playing college baseball has been an aspiration I have had for a long time. I have not officially committed to any school, but I am keeping my options open. I want to attend a school with both a top-tier baseball program as well as high renowned academics,” McDowell said.
McDowell has not only proven himself on the field, but he has also proven to be an outstanding student. He maintains a 4.8 GPA and juggles four AP classes while still being a big asset to the team. “It comes down to self-motivation. I think the reason I have been able to focus on school and sports is because I have learned to manage my time, and that is one of my biggest challenges in high school,” McDowell explained.
Last year, McDowell went 6-1 in pitching as a sophomore and pitched a two-hit shutout in 65 pitches against North High School, the undefeated league champions. McDowell is looking forward to the rest of the season where he will do his best to “make some new stats.” As it is early in the season, McDowell and the Bears will continue to press forward to CIF.