BISMARCK – Mark Dodd couldn’t get away much last spring.
The Bismarck-Henning / Rossville-Alvin high school football and baseball coach devotes countless hours to the Blue Devils.
Sacrifices time away from his family. All with the aim of improving the athletes of BHRA.
Which, last spring, coincided with successive BHRA football and baseball seasons.
But the veteran coach escaped Vermilion County in late February, driving nine hours to Fayetteville, Ark.
All in a bid to see his son, Dylan, take the mound for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team in a road game against the Arkansas No.2.
The 23-year-old southpaw undoubtedly made his dad and mom, Thea, shine a bit more last week. Being drafted in the third round of the MLB Draft with the Atlanta Braves’ 96th overall pick will do so.
But watching Dylan pitch on a cool, cloudy Thursday afternoon against the lore-rich Razorbacks made the tough-nosed ball coach cry.
“I spoke to his mom on the long drive and said, ‘That might put Dylan on the map, because you’re up against one of the best teams in the country,’” Mark recalls this week. “We squeezed out of the seats they gave us in the right field pen, and we tried to sit quiet, between home plate and first base because we were surrounded by Arkansas fans. . They can get a little rowdy. He was throwing well and in the sixth inning he had the bases loaded with two strikeouts. He struck out the last hitter on strikes and a bunch of Arkansas fans turned to us because we were making noise and we were pretty excited. These fans looked at us and yelled at me, and I’m like, “Uh, oh, that could be bad. But all they said was, ‘Hey, your kid is really good.’ It was a very, very fun time.
Dodd and his SEMO teammates didn’t take the win that day, with Arkansas rallying to a 6-5 win in 10 innings. But 10 strikeouts by Dodd prepared him for the exceptional season he had by becoming the first-ever BHRA graduate to be selected in the MLB Draft and the most drafted player in SEMO history.
This is the ultimate reward for Dylan, obviously. And also show that you can practice several sports in high school while becoming a professional. He has been an outstanding receiver and defensive back for the Blue Devils football team and a quality contributor on the basketball court.
The moment means more to those who have seen it all unfold.
“For him there were a lot of sacrifices too, growing up and in college,” Mark said. “Your friends are going to a poolside party in June, and he’s in the car on his way to Champaign for a workout.”
Mark missed some of those moments. Of course, the flip side is that he was able to coach Dylan in football and baseball with the Blue Devils. It wasn’t always the easiest situation, however, for the two Dodds. Dylan’s younger brother Dawson now experiences it. He is set to begin his senior season as a BHRA quarterback and is also starting on the Blue Devils baseball team.
“It’s never easy to be the coach’s kid,” said Mark. “I was very lucky because my two boys, we have always had a good relationship. I know not all fathers who are coaches can say that. We tried to leave the coaching and the talking to the field pretty much. We just tried to be a father and son at home. I think we handled it pretty well.
Dylan will soon be leaving the comforts of his family, signing a contract with the Braves and beginning his professional career in baseball.
Mark said he’s unsure whether Dylan will be posted to a Class A affiliate with the Braves later this summer or instead train at their spring training facility in North Port, Fla. He pitched 96 2/3 innings this season for the Redhawks, compiling a 9-2 record and a 3.17 earned-run average.
Every time Dylan makes his first pro start, Mark wants to be there. In person.
If he can’t because he’s a coach, he’ll manage. The scenario has happened in the past and will happen again.
On Monday evening, the Dodd family celebrated Dylan’s historic achievement. On Tuesday morning, Mark was back in the BHRA weight room with his football team.
“Dylan gets it,” Mark said. “He’s done it a lot, and he doesn’t need me there. He never really did.
But …
“I’m not saying that I won’t be checking my phone regularly for its stats,” Mark said with a laugh. “We all feel very, very blessed.”
