Prep Baseball

Dunn cherishes final year with Bulldogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Alan Dunn was supposed to be out on the field, doing his part last season as Fayetteville baseball returned to the top of Class 7A baseball.

His best friends and teammates were all part of the team which made the Bulldogs the top squad in the state, and Dunn had grown up with this talented group, building the team into a powerhouse.

But while Fayetteville cruised to another state championship last spring — its fifth in the past eight seasons — all Dunn could do was sit and watch.

“That was really difficult, especially when they were having a lot of success and knowing I wasn’t a part of it,” he said. “But this year I’ve tried to make sure I could be a big part of it.”

Dunn missed not only an entire junior season with a torn labrum, but he also missed his entire sophomore year with a case of mononecleosis.

The senior second baseman, who goes by the name “Duck,” was able to stay on the field in the summer and used his time with the Midwest Nationals to attract attention from Coffeyville (Kan.) College, where he signed a letter or intent to play back in February.

But missing two years with the Bulldogs left Dunn motivated entering his last year of high school. And with Fayetteville again stacked for another state title run, Dunn wanted to make sure he would be part of the fun this time around.

And that’s just what he’s done.

“It’s meant a lot to get back with my teammates and my friends,” Dunn said. “I’ve played with them since I was young and those two years I wasn’t able to, it hurt not being able to be out there with them.”

Dunn is hitting .292 this year, is second on the Bulldogs with four home runs and also has 15 RBIs as the No. 2-hole hitter this season. He also pairs with junior Drew Tyler to give Fayetteville one of the strongest middle infield defense combos in the conference.

“He’s battled through a lot of illnesses and injuries to come back and play,” Fayetteville coach Vance Arnold said. “But he’s stuck with it and he’s kept a positive attitude.

“When he’s on, he can really be on and when he’s not he can struggle just like any other player. But he’s a kid going to play college ball and he’s kept a positive approach to come back for this last year of high school baseball.”

The Bulldogs begin Class 7A Tournament play Saturday. Dunn knows Fayetteville’s work isn’t quite done just yet, as a target remains on the back every time they step on the field. But for Dunn, just being on the field for this championship run is special in its own right.

“It would me a not to win another one this year,” Dunn said. “Just knowing I helped out this year, it means a lot.”

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