Dalton Carter’s standards for himself are clear and demanding. “I work daily to improve my command and increase my velocity on the mound,” Carter said. “I am a pitcher and a position player so hitting is also important, so I have been focusing on improving my stats at the plate. Every season I want my velocity to increase, my command to be sharper, my fielding to be error-free and my hitting to improve. One of my personal goals when I’m pitching is to not walk anyone.”
That mindset has carried into his first season wearing a Warner uniform. “This is my first year as a Warner Eagle and I have only shared the baseball field with these guys during this past summer,” Carter said. “So far, everyone is very excited about hitting the field and seeing our hard work hopefully be successful. I would say our overall team morale is extremely positive and very high.”
Team goals extend beyond daily improvement. “We have four tournaments this season in addition to our regular season play,” Carter said. “We want to make a good showing at those tournaments… make a statement. We want to do our part in bringing Warner Athletics to the next level. The entire student body is so supportive of each other and every sport. We want baseball to be part of the hype of Warner as well. One of our biggest goals is to represent well at Regionals and we are definitely putting in the work right now.”
Confidence in the roster is strong. “I feel our team is stacked with some pretty good hitters,” Carter said. “I also feel our pitching will be very strong and consistent.”
Carter’s versatility gives Warner options all over the field. “I field the positions of pitcher, catcher, shortstop, second and third,” he said. “I can and have played in the outfield and even spent a couple innings at first, but I mainly protect the middle infield if I’m not on the mound or behind the plate.”
His approach changes with the situation. “When at the plate I look for open gaps,” Carter said. “From the mound I get my directions from my catcher. When playing short or second, I always try to read the base runner to attempt to catch him stealing.”
When it comes to legacy, Carter keeps it simple. “Heart and Grit!” he said. “I want people to remember that I gave 100% every time my feet touched the field.”
Dalton competes in baseball and football. Looking ahead, his hopes are grounded in faith and work ethic. “I pray I am blessed enough to have the opportunity to play baseball at the college level,” Carter said. “If that is not in God’s plan for me, I will probably go to school to become a licensed electrician.”
