Unfinished business
Plainfield catcher looks back on three year baseball career
By Mike Beas
Like every other senior athlete who couldn’t wait for spring sports to begin, Kyle Dykins won’t get the chance to finish what he started.
Dykins, a catcher who was a fixture behind the plate for the Plainfield High School baseball program since the outset of the 2017 season, must miss out whether it’s conversing with a Quakers’ pitcher or looking back at an opposing base runner.
Photo by Eric Pritchett
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dominated life’s scoreboards the past few months, an unfortunate and unprecedented reality. Nonetheless, Dykins, a soft-spoken senior who aspires to become a firefighter in his hometown, managed to put together an impressive three-year career.
A .214 hitter over the past two seasons, Dykins was slotted into a variety of different places in Plainfield’s batting order. He was counted on more for his defense and leadership.
“When Kyle was an eighth grader, Kalib Clark was a senior catcher who kind of reached out to him,” said third year Plainfield coach Shane Abrell, formerly a Quakers assistant. “Kyle saw the leadership role Kalib had and wanted to be the best catcher he could be.
“Kyle had a great relationship with all of the pitchers on and off the field. He’s quiet, but wasn’t afraid to pull a teammate aside and show them how to do it right.”
Dykins participated in a Q&A with the ICON:
Q: Being a catcher carries with it a lot of demands most spectators might not even notice over the course of a game. Why did you enjoy it so much?
A: You’re involved in every play, and I was always a catcher (growing up). I’ll definitely miss baseball, but it’s time to move on.
Q: Do you remember your first start of your freshman season?
A: We played Evansville Reitz. I was pretty nervous, but once we got through the first inning I was okay. When I look back, I appreciate the years I got to play baseball with my friends. Those are memories that will be with me forever.
Q: What is your reaction to losing much of your senior year socially, academically and athletically?
A: It really stinks because I know there’s no way we can get it all back. I miss playing baseball with my friends, but we kind of came to terms with it. We all still talk with a group text probably a couple times a week.
Q: What is it that made you want to become a firefighter?
A: My mom (Kathryn Pennington) is a firefighter in Plainfield, and I’ve been around her work a lot. She’s been a firefighter for over 20 years. I like being able to help people, and I think it’s a great idea.
