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CALLON A STEADY HAND

Dodger senior epitomizes consistency as four-year staff regular

Messenger photo by Eric Pratt Drew Callon pitches for Fort Dodge at McNeil Field earlier this season.

Drew Callon is a prime example of just how arbitrary a pitcher’s record tends to be in baseball.

The Fort Dodge senior is in the fourth season of his varsity career on the mound. Callon has logged over 158 innings, struck out 149 batters, held opponents to a batting average in the .215 range, and is sporting a cumulative earned run average of 2.34.

By most standards, those numbers would place the southpaw squarely into the all-state discussion. Yet because of the Dodgers’ brutal CIML schedule, Callon’s overall record is a deceptively-pedestrian 10-11.

The tough, low-scoring setbacks — too many to count, mainly due to Callon being paired up against the aces from annual state tournament contenders like Johnston, West Des Moines Dowling, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines Valley, Marshalltown and Southeast Polk on a regular basis — have been frustrating, but it hasn’t broken Callon’s spirit. He’ll gladly trade any and all individual success for a shot at Principal Park next month.

“As a team, our goal has always been to make the state tournament,” said Callon, who is currently 2-2 with a 1.35 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched for the 7-10 Dodgers. “As an individual, my goal is to try and lead the team to the best of my abilities.

“Having pitched for the Dodgers for the past three years (before this season) has allowed me to share some of my knowledge with others on the pitching staff (in 2019). The leadership role I’ve taken now is more by example; I try to go out on the field every day and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

The Upper Iowa University recruit has been the team’s ace so far this summer, but Callon is also leading FDSH at the plate with a .385 batting average. He has 20 hits, seven RBI and four doubles in 17 games as both a pitcher and an outfielder.

Callon has 77 hits, 47 runs scored, 12 doubles, 31 RBI and 20 stolen bases in two-plus seasons at the plate. The academic letterwinner and National Honor Society member was a second team all-CIML and all-district selection a year ago.

Callon has also lettered in football and track as a Dodger.

The commitment to UIU and head coach Jeremy Ische was an easy one for Callon, who said, “the main thing that got me attached to Upper Iowa was the coach. I love the energy he brings to the program.”

Fort Dodge heads to Mason City on Wednesday before returning home for a Thursday make-up twinbill against West Des Moines Valley.

TIMEOUT WITH DREW CALLON

Vacation destination: Riviera Maya.

Person I would like to have dinner with: Selena Gomez.

It would surprise people that I: am not very organized.

My sports role model: Anthony Rizzo.

My everyday role model: my dad.

I can’t go a day without: Xbox.

Nickname: Bo.

Most heated rivalry: Mason City.

Favorite road trip: College World Series with my teammates.

What are you listening to right now? Roddy Ricch.

Favorites…

Team: Chicago Cubs.

Class: human anatomy.

Movie: Real Steel.

Book: QB1.

Phone app: snapchat.

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