![Springstead High's Dalton Williams started on the mound for the Eagles in Friday night's home game with Central High. [Photo by Joe DiCristofalo]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC_4835-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg "DSC_4835-Enhanced-NR")
SPRING HILL — He is not the biggest, fastest or most heralded high school baseball player in Hernando County.
But, eight games into his senior season, Springstead’s Dalton Williams has put himself at or near the very top of any list of the best all-around players in the county. And beyond.
Further proof came Friday night as Williams used his arm and bat to lead the host Eagles to a 12-2 victory against county rival Central. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound left-hander improved his record to 3-0 on the mound as he held the Bears to three hits and struck out six in four innings.
“Dalton is just a ballplayer,” Springstead coach David Cazanas said. “He’s been doing it all for us as a pitcher and as a hitter and he went out and did it again.”
On pitching alone, Williams had an excellent game. But his contributions with the bat took him to another level. Williams drove in two runs to keep himself among the state leaders in RBI. Williams, who bats third in the order, entered the game with 12 RBI on the season to rank 21st in the state of Florida and second in the state among Class 5A players.
Williams’ first-inning single to right field scored Nathaniel Sabino, who led off the inning with a single. That gave the Eagles (6-2) a 1-0 lead in a game in which they never trailed. Williams also knocked in a run with a single in the second inning — a frame in which the Eagles scored six runs on seven hits to take a commanding 7-0 lead. That was more than enough for the Eagles, who went onto end the game in the fifth inning via the 10-run rule.
“I feel like I could have pitched better,” said Williams, who also was a star on Springstead’s football team. “But this was a good team win all the way around.”
That’s not an understatement. Seven of the nine Springstead starters collected at least one hit in a game in which the Eagles pounded out 14 hits.
“We got production from the top of the order, the middle of the order and the bottom of the order,” Cazanas said. “It was a nice way to bounce back (after an 8-1 loss to River Ridge on Thursday night).”
But most of that production came from the top and middle of the order. Sabino, a sophomore shortstop who already has hired an agent and is drawing attention from major colleges and Major League teams, had two singles and a double and drove in a run. Senior catcher Andrew Ward, who has committed to play at Auburn University at Montgomery next season, also had three hits, including a three-run triple in the second inning. Seniors Nathan Marsh and Joey Reif, the fourth and fifth hitters in the lineup, each added two hits as the Eagles forced the Bears (3-4) to cycle through three different pitchers. Reif relieved Williams in the fifth inning and struck out the last two batters he faced.
Williams was on the verge of another opportunity to add to his gaudy stats in the fifth inning. He was standing in the on-deck circle, but Ward ended the game with a walk-off hit that knocked in a run to put the Eagles ahead by 10 runs and force the “mercy” rule.
But Williams, who hit .328 as a junior and .404 with four home runs as a sophomore, already has done enough to continue to make himself into a legitimate college prospect. Cazanas said he now is taking an active role in making sure colleges are aware of Williams, who leads Springstead with two home runs and plays the outfield when he’s not pitching.
“There’s no question he can play on the next level,” Cazanas said. “He’s a great all-around player and he’s one of our leaders. I don’t think he got a lot of attention in the past. But I’m starting to reach out to colleges to let them know about him. And he just keeps on doing his part as a pitcher and a hitter. He can definitely help a college team.”
Williams, who now has 65 RBI in four years, said he’s had contact with several Division II programs. But, for now, he’s content to enjoy a senior season that has been highlighted by a fast start by the Eagles under Cazanas, who is in his first season as the head coach. The Eagles went 13-12 last season and finished third in their district. Cazanas was an assistant coach for Springstead last season.
“I love the way he coaches,” Williams said. “He has brought a lot of energy and he makes it fun for all of us. Everyone has bought into him. This game started at 7 (p.m.), but most of us were out here at 2 this afternoon getting ready because it’s so much fun. We really are a team and I think this team can go a long way.”
The Eagles, who have won five of their last six games, continue their season next week with a game at Citrus High on Tuesday, followed by another road game at Mitchell High on Thursday before wrapping up the week with a home game against Citrus on Friday.
Central was led by senior shortstop Jayden Warren, who had two hits, including an RBI double. Senior first baseman Ryan Engley knocked in Central’s other run with a double. The Bears resume their schedule Tuesday with a game at Weeki Wachee on Tuesday followed by home games with Hudson on Thursday and Weeki Wachee on Friday.
