LEGION: Dix fills in for injured Hahn on roster

PERKINS TWP.

Tyler Dix has been called upon to pinch hit on more than one occasion in his high school baseball career, but this is a little different.

Dix, who graduated from Perkins in June, had considered playing for the Sandusky Post 83 American Legion baseball team this summer on a part-time basis while focusing on his future at Walsh University, where he will head to Aug. 15 on a football scholarship.

A year ago, Dix was a full-time member of Post 83's state championship and Great Lakes regional run. But once summer football workouts and his job started, Dix informed Post 83 coach Ray Neill, also Dix's coach at Perkins, that he would be unable to play at all.

But a week ago in Post 83's 5th district clinching-win, catcher Eric Hahn (Huron) was hurt while diving for a ball. Hahn, who had a troubled history injury with the injured shoulder, later found it was dislocated, rendering him unable to compete at this week's state tournament, which begins today in Athens.

Hahn will be in the uniform in the dugout for Post 83 (22-12), but the injury meant Neill was down to Joe Consolo (Bellevue) as his only catcher. Neill then picked up the phone and made a last ditch call to Dix.

"I wanted to focus on football more, but coach Neill called me a few days ago and told me that Eric got hurt and said he needed me," Dix said. "He's done a lot for me, so I couldn't say no."

Dix isn't going to walk right in and become the starter in Athens this week, but Neill is comfortable with him in a backup role despite the fact that he hasn't played in more than two months.

"Will he be 100 percent? No, but it's like riding a bike," Neill said. "Once you've mastered it, you can do OK. And Joe (Consolo) is our No. 1 catcher, but Tyler Dix in my opinion is better than anyone else we could have thrown back there in a backup situation like this.

"I think I have a pretty good feel for this team, and everyone is pretty happy he is here."

It has been a week since the injury, but Neill hasn't stopped hurting for Hahn.

"I just feel terrible for Eric," he said. "I know how much he loves the game and he's one of those guys that every day over the past two years has brought a passion and a will to win to the field. I feel very bad for him and his family that he will be unable to participate."

Dix knows being a catcher means he won't be able to just run out there and pick up where he left off for Perkins in late May.

"It is going to be a little hard, but I just have to use what little time given to me to hit and field and try my best to get ready to go," he said. "I'm going to try and bring some energy from behind the plate and take charge out there and make sure everyone knows what's going on."

That doesn't mean Dix has no concerns jumping into the fray 34 games in, however.

"The last time I caught Mike Hamann (Danbury) was at the state tournament last year," he said. "So there will have to be some familiarity to work with, but hopefully I can just limit my mistakes.

Neill indicated Dix is allowed to re-join the team due to being on the original 18-man roster that had to be turned in by June 15.

"He was going to participate with us as much as he could between football and work," Neill said. "But it just didn't work out. Now we need him, and fortunately he is willing to step up for us."

Although he's been in full football mode since graduation, Dix is looking forward to calling the dugout home for at least a few days.

"Ever since Coach Neill called, I've been excited and wanting to play," he said. "It's going to be fun, and I know all these guys out there so it's going to be a blast."