Improvement can occur gradually, over time, to the point that an athlete is recognized and revered each time he enters the playing field. Such is the case with Bacon County High School senior Dalton Spires, an All-State pitcher from Alma who strikes fear into the hearts of every batter he faces on the baseball diamond.
“He is a great competitor, hard worker, and the team has a lot of confidence in him when he’s leading the way,” says Red Raiders head coach Derek James. A four-year starter in high school, Spires has played between the base paths for as long as he can remember.
“I’ve always played baseball ever since T-ball,” he says. In all that time, he has never given less than his very best. When the 5’10”, 162-pound Spires is on the mound for Coach James’ Red Raiders, he sets his mind at ease and relies on practice and muscle memory to get his pitches to their mark.
He explains it like a true baseball veteran. “You can’t really think much in the middle of a game. This game is already hard enough; don’t overthink it.”
Looking like a major-leaguer at just 10-years-old, Spires pulled off his first big play by fielding a bunt bare-handed from third base and gunning down the runner before he could reach first. Six years later, he had improved his pitching enough to be called on to pitch during a championship game. He ended up tossing a perfect game in five innings, facing the minimum of 15 batters and setting them down on just 28 pitches.
Last season, Spires had a record on the mound of 6-0 with an earned run average of .568. He was named First-Team All-Region and All-State as he helped lead the Raiders to a 20-4 record and the second seed from Region 2-AA. In the second round of the state playoffs, Spires was pitching with the bases loaded when the batter laid down a bunt that went to the edge of the grass in front of home plate.
“I ran and slid, glove-flipping the ball to the catcher for the out,” he says.
This year, Spires added a mean curveball to go with a fastball and change-up for an ERA of 1.69 and 39 strikeouts in 28 innings of work by the end of March. Although he played basketball and ran cross country for the Red Raiders his freshman year, Spires decided to focus on baseball and became a middle infielder and fireball pitcher for the team.
“I plan to play baseball in college,” he says. “I’ve been in touch with Middle Georgia but I’m interested in anywhere I can play baseball.”
Sports and baseball, it seems, will always be in Spires’ life. The son of Aaron and Rhonda Spires, Dalton carries a 3.7 grade point average and hopes to major in sports marketing in college. Part of his success on the baseball diamond can be attributed to his strength and conditioning program. He started hitting the weight room his sophomore year and has stuck with it ever since. He also works out with members of the Red Raiders football team and in the summer does CrossFit training. The focus of his improvement on the baseball field has been on his pitching mechanics so that he is now able to hit his spots more consistently.
He credits his father for helping him throughout his playing career. He also lauds the help of Coach Ryan Kineard, one of Bacon County’s football coaches.
“He always works us hard in the weight room,” Spires says. “My other coach would be my CrossFit trainer, Ryan Graves. He made working out fun, but also pushed me to my limit.”
He looks back on his days playing travel baseball for helping him become the player he is today. Coaches Casey and Carry Martin guided Spires and taught him the basics of the game.
“To this day I still take hitting and pitching lessons from Casey,” he says.
Spires has developed a love of the game over the years and seems to be almost philosophical about it. “My favorite part of the game is that there isn’t a clock,” he explains. “You have to throw the ball over the plate and give the other team a chance.”
Spires has been an asset to his team both on and off the field who leads by example in the dugout and on the diamond. Coach James is just happy that Spires is a Red Raider.
“He does a great job on and off the field,” Coach James says. “He’s just one of those guys that you’re glad he’s on your team.”
SE-0416-MI-Spires
MI – Dalton Spires
Nothing Less Than His Best
Bacon County baseball
By Rob Asbell
