By Stacey Dec
LoCoSports Staff Writer
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Ashburn (December 24, 2015) — Stone Bridge High School senior Dylan Beck committed to play baseball at Division III Hood College in Frederick, Maryland starting in the fall of 2016.
“I am very excited I get to continue my career ad compete at the next level,” Beck said. “I love knowing where I’m going and not waiting around on applications to see where I get in. I can now focus on the spring and work to accomplish more with Stone Bridge.”
At 6-foot-1, Beck currently plays infield for Stone Bridge but will have to change positions when he plays at Hood.
“I was recruited as an outfielder but play infield for Stone Bridge so I’ll add some versatility and athleticism to the roster,” Beck said.
From baseball to a career path after college, Beck chose Hood College for multiple reasons.
“I love the history program they had to offer,” Beck said. “It was very unique and allows me to choose from a wide variety of classes. I will have a great opportunity to join the workforce right out of college with all the internships they offer. Obviously, the biggest part for me was a chance to come in as a freshman and make an impact on the baseball program.”
Under head coach Cory Beddick, the program will begin its second year this spring with Beck debuting in their third season.
“As a second year program coming up this spring, I look forward to the chance to start the program and win a championship early in the program’s history,” Beck said. “Offensively, I hope to get on base as much as possible and create some runs.”
From a young age, Beck has played baseball, but didn’t get very serious about the sport until he was in high school.
“I started by just playing sports like any other kid but baseball was the one that I really liked and stuck with,” said Beck, who also plays baseball for his travel team, Diamond Elite. “I was not all that good when I was younger and really didn’t think I was good compared to other kids until I was in the fall of my sophomore year.”
Beck mentioned that he has always been very self-motivated and always knew he wanted to continue playing baseball throughout college.
“One extra push for me is my mother, who passed away in seventh grade,” Beck said. “I was just starting a spring travel season, and she always told me she loved watching me play. Making her proud is goal number one for me, and I think with this commitment I have done so.”
Although he has made his commitment with Hood College, Beck still believes he has room for improvement before beginning to compete at the collegiate level.
“I have worked hard for a long time, and I accomplished one of my long time goals of playing in college,” Beck said. “I am far from where I want to be. I have to continue to get stronger and improve my ability.”
The Stone Bridge Bulldogs will be welcoming new head coach Andrew Baird to the program this year but the goal of repeating as state champions remains.
“I feel we have the right pieces and talent to get there again and the new coach is anything but a step backwards in that process,” said Beck, who has been on varsity since his sophomore year. “Since day one he told us he wants to win, and he’s done a great job pushing us to be better people and baseball players.”
After winning the VHSL 5A state championship against Marshall High School in 2015, Beck is already getting ready for his final spring season as a Bulldog.
“My excitement is difficult to contain for this season, and I anticipate the same result as last year,” Beck said. “I plan to go to Hood with two rings next fall.”
