PHS senior the final member of a baseball brotherhood

Dayton Dooney can trace back his interest in the baseball program at Poway High School all the way to second grade.

His family had just moved from Hawaii when the first two Dooney brothers, Donovan, then senior and Dillion, a sophomore, started playing for the Titans.

That’s when Dayton began as well. He was the team’s bat boy.

“I checked out of school early on game days,’’ Dooney said. “My teachers weren’t too happy about that. I was.’’

A few years later, brother Devon made the varsity.

Donovan and Devon both played at Cal State San Marcos and Dillion played at Indiana.

“Every year at Poway, some teacher would ask me if I was related to those other Dooneys,’’ Dayton said. “I admitted I was, but I was the last one.’’

The bat boy, who now stands 6-foot and plays shortstop, will play on the infield next season at Arizona.

“I found out at Poway what it took to be a good player, how to compete on every pitch,’’ Dayton said. “You don’t take any pitches off playing for Poway.

“When I’m batting, I can’t tell you anything else that is happening on the field because I have tunnel-vision on the pitcher.’’

Dooney’s passion at Poway has measured up to the family’s legacy.

He batted .311 with 16 RBIs as a freshman during Poway’s run to the San Diego Section Division Me championship, .350 with 17 RBIs as a sophomore and .351 with two home runs and 14 RBIs last season.

After a terrific Lions Tournament in which the Titans won the Classic Division crown this year, Dooney’s average has soared to .529 with a homer and 22 RBIs on a team with a .357 batting average.

“We’ve had a Dooney in our lineup for a decade or so now and Dayton can swing it with the best in his family,’’ Poway coach Bob Parry said. “He’s out there with one purpose, to win. He’s been that way going back to his Little League days as our bat boy.’’

As a 12-year-old, Dooney was given an ultimatum by dad Lee - learn how to switch-hit or get out of Little League. He picked it up, although he got a little sick of all the whiffle balls he had to hit along the way.

“It was a frustrating process, but my dad made me stick with it,’’ Dooney said. “And I’m glad he did.’’

Dad was also the one who opted to move the family from Hawaii to Poway. Not enough exposure for baseball players in Hawaii, he said.

“I have no memories of Hawaii,’’ Dayton said. “We’ve vacationed there a few times but that’s all.’’

When Dayton joined Donovan and Dillion with CIF championships, he did so as a starter, not just a bench warmer.

“That feeling was unreal,’’ he recalled. “Nothing compares to doing that in front of all your family and friends.

“The stands at USD were full that night and the dogpile after we won is something I will never forget.’’

Poway opens Palomar League play this week with three games against Westview High. The regular season ends May 16 with one final game against rival Rancho Bernardo.

“League play and then the playoffs and that’s all that’s left of senior year,’’ Dooney said. “I’m not sure I’m ready to have it be over yet.

“Every game in the Palomar League is a battle. There are no walk-throughs in the league.

“I’ll be happy with whatever happens at the end, but another CIF title would really cap it off nicely.’’