Baseball: Dingman raises level of play to guide Dons’ resurgence

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Can’t imagine Justin Dingman was happy when his team, Verdugo Hills, got off to a slow start, opening the season with losses in three of its first four games. Never one to settle, the junior took it upon himself to do something about changing the fortune of the struggling Dons.

And now, the slump is nothing more than a distant memory. In 15 games, Dingman is hitting .449 with 27 RBIs, a total ranking him among the top 20 in the state, five more than any other player in the City Section, according MaxPreps.com.

Verdugo Hills is one of hottest teams around as a result, winners of 11 consecutive games heading into Friday’s Sunset Six League showdown against Sun Valley Poly. The streak will be tested over the weekend in games against Alhambra and Roosevelt. Beyond that, rivals Grant and North Hollywood loom during league play.

It’s not unreasonable to think Dingman will end up being the difference. He has been thus far.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

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