NICEVILLE — If former Crestview High School baseball standout Dakota Dean is worried about his future on the diamond, he’s not showing it.
Dean, a 2013 CHS graduate, spent last year as a member of the Louisiana State baseball team. When things didn’t work out in Baton Rouge, he returned home to play for Northwest Florida State College.
“It has been awesome being real close to home and having a new group of guys around you,” Dean said. “It’s an awesome coaching staff. I love it.”
Dean helped lead the Raiders to a 7-3 win over a Pensacola State team that features two of his former teammates, Tate Sweatt and Roman Donofro.
Dean was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, a run batted in and a stolen base. Through 30 games he’s batting .326. He’s hitting even better in Panhandle Conference play, upping his average to .375 against league opponents.
“It’s definitely coming around,” Dean said. “Now that we are getting into conference (play), I feel like I’m getting into my stride a little bit.
“I’m trying to get everybody rallied around me a little bit and be a leader and to start taking charge.”
Dean has made the transition from high school shortstop to college outfielder without any trouble.
One thing that surprised Dean was the level of play in the Panhandle Conference.
“This conference, I didn’t know how competitive it was until we played our first couple of games against Chipola,” he said. “I actually realized that it is a really good junior college league. You have to come out every day locked in and play your A game or somebody can rule you.”
Dean plans on using the rest of the season to continue to improve his swing and improve his footwork and speed.
He’s content to let his baseball future take care of itself. Dean admits his older brother Blake, an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans, is recruiting him pretty hard.
As for his other options?
“Things are wide open,” he said. “It doesn’t matter to me if I’m just playing baseball.
“I’m going to get my degree and ride it (playing ball) out as long as it will last me.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Bulldog standout happy to be a Raider