varsity.roanoke.com

S J CARTER I Special to The Roanoke Times

James River's Caleb Dorton was the Group A baseball player of the year.

Caleb Dorton is like most Group A athletes participating in the VHSCA East-West All-Star games this week.

The James River baseball star wants to prove himself against players from larger Group AA and Group AAA schools.

"I'm going to make a statement," Dorton said.

Dorton hopes it's something besides this comment he made Saturday during an American Legion game in Rocky Mount:

"Ouch!"

Dorton dislocated the pinky finger on his right hand while diving back into first base, an injury he hopes will not hamper him in today's 2 p.m. VHSCA game at Christopher Newport University in Newport News.

"I jammed it going back into the bag, and the bag didn't move," Dorton said. "It bent it back to a 90-degree angle the wrong way. One kid on the team, his dad is a doctor. I went over to the fence and he bent it back in place and we wrapped it up."

Dorton, who pitched and played third base for James River, returned to hit a home run later in the game but is still experiencing pain.

"I came out the next day and made some throws," he said. "It wasn't too bad on the easy throws, but on the throws from deep in the hole it was tough because it was right where you grip the ball.

"It's pretty sore, but I think I'll be good for this week."

Dorton inflicted his own brand of punishment on James River opponents this year, earning VHSCA Group A player of the year honors.

The Concord signee had a 10-1 pitching record with a 2.30 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 70 innings. He batted .523 with five home runs and 35 RBIs as the Knights reached the Group A semifinals before losing to Essex.

The workhorse threw 127 pitches in a state quarterfinal win at Honaker.

Dorton said Concord recruited him primarily to play third base with spot duty on the mound.

"He's certainly been a tremendous high school player," James River coach Gehrig Ferguson said. "I hope it will translate in college. I don't know how much he'll pitch. At the very least, he'll be a decent hitter."

Ferguson said professional scouts never really got on the 5-foot-8 Dorton's trail during his senior year.

"No, his size and lack of velocity played against him," the James River coach said. "He didn't have enough velocity on his fastball, particularly for a right-hander."

Dorton will be one of eight players from Group A schools in today's game, including the Grayson County duo of outfielder Adam Bedsaul and pitcher/infielder Zack Jones on the West squad.

"I think we're overlooked because we play in Single-A," Dorton said. "We've got some good players."