Gunnar Dillard: 3A Cover Player
admin | Dec 27th, 2024
Gunnar Dillard is a 6-0 210 Senior C/IF/RHP for the 6-3A Wall Hawks. He has signed with Oklahoma University.
High School Career
As a junior, Dillard hit .564 on 53 Hits with17 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 34 Runs, 42 RBIs, and 8 SB. Among all 3A Players, he was 3rd in average, tied for 5th in doubles, tied for 5th in home runs, tied for 7th in hits, and tied for 7th in RBIs. He was named the 6-3A Co-MVP. He was selected to the Texas Sports Writers Association 3A All-State Team as a 1st Team Catcher.
In his sophomore season, Dillard hit .333 on 46 Hits with 18 2B, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 22 Runs, a .424 OBP and a .507 SLG. He was tied for 4th among all 3A players in doubles and tied for 9th in RBIs. He was named the 6-3A Co-Offensive MVP. He was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association 3A All-State Team as a 2nd Team Catcher.
As a freshman, Dillard hit .356 on 36 Hits with 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 34 Runs, a .521 OBP and a .505 SLG. He was named to the 6-3A All-District Team as a 1st Team 3B. He was also named the Newcomer of the Year on the All-West Texas Baseball Team.
Other Baseball Recognition
2024 THSCA 3A Slugger of the Year
2024 THSBCA Team Texas Navy Selection
Personal
Parents- Ralph and Mauria Dillard
Age – 18
Siblings: Older sister and two younger brothers
Favorite artist: Braxton Keith
Restaurant: Armentas in San Angelo
Fast food: Raising Canes
Last Movie I saw: Red One
What do you like to do outside baseball: deer/duck/varmint hunt
Favorite MLB team – Texas Rangers
Favorite MLB Player – Corey Seager
Interview
Wall went to the state tournament your sophomore year and then got knocked out in the 2nd round last year. What does it take to get to the state tournament?
It’s getting hot at the right time. And everyone doing the right things at the right time as well. It’s tough to get there. The year we went to state, we didn’t have a single senior on the roster. Last year, we had everyone from the year before and lost in a one game series in the second round. We just got real cold at the end of the year, and that’s just how it goes sometimes in baseball.
So what do you like about this year’s Wall team?
Well, it’s going to be real new. We will be replacing all of our infielders. All four of them were seniors last year. But we have some JV guys from last year that were really good. We had two guys that were at least in the mid 80s, like touching upper 80s on JV, which is unheard of around where I’m from, especially in 3A baseball. So it’s going to be really nice having them up there and stepping up in big roles.
What is it about Wall that produces good teams and players year after year?
Yeah they’ve always been pretty good in the athletics, and in baseball we’ve had some really good players here. I think I have to say it starts in the youth. Ronnie Gaines runs the youth baseball programs, and that’s always a big deal. When I was young, everyone wanted to play for Ronnie Gaines and play for West Texas Elite. I think the biggest thing now is the competition. There’s a lot of spots on our team. Even if you’re a starter last year, you may not have that spot secured for this year, because there’s another guy stepping up that’s gotten a lot better from the year before, because he wants that spot as well. So everyone’s pushing each other. We all love each other, but we are pushing each other.
What do you think are the challenges for this year’s team?
Definitely the new guys. I’m excited about what they bring but these guys don’t have that varsity experience. They don’t have that big game experience. I don’t think it’s going to be a big time challenge, but it definitely will be one.
Why Oklahoma?
Oh, man, I’ve always wanted to go there. People would ask me when I was younger, where I wanted to go. And they would ask if I was good enough to play at the Division I level. So, at first I would just say “I don’t really know.” But so as soon good things started happening for me and I started talking to them, I said ‘All right, this is where I want to go. Oklahoma.’ No doubt. I went to the camp there when I was in sixth grade, right after I was diagnosed with diabetes, and all those guys there made me feel like I was a part of the family. And so after going up again, there was no doubt in my mind. I was going to be a Sooner.
