Male Athlete of the Week
Dustin Mishka has brought intensity to the field for the Ida Baker Bulldogs over the past four years. He’s also been one of their biggest threats at the plate.
Despite an 0-for-12 slump entering last Monday’s game at Estero, there wasn’t much doubt Mishka would get the bat going – and did he ever.
The senior infielder tagged Estero for three home runs and a triple, and blasted another round-tripper the next night in a 17-3 rout at North Fort Myers. It triggered an explosive week for the Bulldogs that included seven home runs, and a 17-16 win over previously unbeaten Mariner on Friday.
The Daily Breeze Male Athlete of the Week did his part. For the week, Mishka was 7-for-10 at the plate with four home runs, a triple, five RBI and 10 runs scored.
Mishka credits his three-home-run performance to seeing the ball well – and luck.
“I’ve never done that before,” Mishka said. “It was a lucky night I guess. There were a lot of scouts there, for (Estero’s) Tyler Bighames, so I guess it was a good time to come out of the slump.”
Though Estero won the game 9-7, Mishka and the Bulldogs fed off that performance in their wins over North and Mariner.
“That was the game we started hitting and (Dustin) definitely sparked it for us,” third-year coach Chad Turner said.
Along with being a member of the Bulldogs since the program started four years ago, Mishka has been a fixture on Cape Coral ballfields since age 5.
At Baker, he consistently has been among the team leaders in batting average and defensively at third base and, at times, pitches. He came on in relief and worked the final two innings of the win over Mariner.
With the Bulldogs (6-7) trailing 16-15 entering the bottom of the seventh, Mishka led off with an infield single, setting the stage for teammate Justin Pinto’s walk-off home run. It was the Bulldogs’ first ever win over the rival Tritons.
“It was a thrill,” Mishka said. “We scored eight runs (one inning), then gave up 10, it was just a high scoring game. I don’t think anyone saw that one coming.”
Honorable mentions:
Justin Pinto, freshman, Ida Baker baseball: Pinto homered in each of the Bulldogs’ three games last week, including a walk-off blast Friday.
Aaron Smith, senior, Mariner tennis: Smith prevailed in a hard-fought match at No. 1 singles against North Fort Myers Thursday, winning 6-4, 4-6 (10-7), and notched a straight-set win against Ida Baker.