Not all star players are judged by the accomplishments of their team.
That was the case this season for Durango High School senior baseball player Casey Dunlap, who was named to the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A All-State Baseball First Team.
“It definitely was one of my goals for my senior season,” Dunlap said of the honor. “It’s good to see your hard work pay off like that.”
Dunlap hit for a .532 average in 70 plate appearances. He belted seven home runs, seven doubles and accumulated 27 runs batted in. He also scored 19 times.
During one hot stretch in the middle of the season, he hit four home runs in the span of seven at-bats.
“If we had a rally going, guarantee Casey was in the middle of it,” DHS head coach Eric Baker said. “When we needed the big play, he made them all season, especially in crunch time.”
Dunlap’s season was highlighted by a walk-off homer against rival Montezuma-Cortez in extra innings during the team’s senior day.
He also was named to the All-Southwestern League First Team, while fellow senior Hayden Sill was named to the second team.
But Dunlap said he would trade his individual accolades for more team success, as the Demons went 7-14 and exited in the district round of the state tournament.
“I wish us as a team could’ve gone further and performed better,” said Dunlap, son of Aaron and Julie Dunlap. “But it is always relieving to accomplish personal goals.”
Dunlap also was solid defensively. He spent most of his time at shortstop but also was a strong relief pitcher for the Demons.
“Casey is a very athletic kid. His fielding percentage was good, but on a state-wide basis it wasn’t that impressive. But that’s because he made a lot of plays, or tried to make a lot of plays, that a lot of shortstops don’t because they can’t get to the ball,” Baker said. “He gives himself more chances to make plays than a lot of other guys.
“He made the big play all season, and in crunch time when we needed someone to throw strikes, we could count on him on the mound.”
It was Dunlap’s first all-state nomination.
Dunlap signed to play at Phoenix College next season. It is the same junior college his older brother Blake played for last season.
“Right now, I’m focusing on my future playing college ball,” Dunlap said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
