VYPE's Preseason Baseball Top 20 -- No. 20 Pearland Dawson Eagles

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No. 20

The Pearland Dawson Eagles

Duke Will Carry the Torch

By Ahmard Vital

Still a few years short of a decade in existence, the Pearland Dawson athletic program has made some huge strides in a short amount of time. The football team has had a great deal of success.

And according to Dawson pitcher Travis Duke, it’s the baseball team’s time to keep the momentum going.

“Well the baseball team, like our other sports, are just looking to establish some tradition, a winning tradition at that. And our football team has already done a great job with that, making it to the state semifinals and putting Dawson on the map,” Duke said. “So now it’s up to the baseball team to uphold that.”

That starts now. And one could say it is a year of redemption. The Eagle baseball team has not forgotten their early exit in 2011 and now it’s time to get back to a level at which these guys know they can play.

“We want to work hard and play hard, which is something we have been doing already,” Duke said. “Last year we were eliminated from the first-round of the playoffs so we have had that bitter taste in our mouth all year, so we are looking to get after it this season.”

For Duke, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds, this is the time to get it done. There are several talented players on the Dawson roster, but he has taken the lead as far as getting his team on the road towards a title.

“I’m just the go-to guy, the pitcher who the team relies on to throw strikes,” Duke said. “When the coach calls a pitch I hit my spots. Then whatever happens happens. I know the defense will be there for me. I’m a strike-thrower.”

Duke, who will be taking his talents to Austin to play for the University of Texas later this year, said that it is his curve ball that does the most damage to opposing batters.