Longtime friends Brock DeWitt and Dalton Durossette suited up for the same team at the 30th Annual Modesto Sunrise Rotary High School All-Star Baseball Classic this past weekend in Turlock.
DeWitt and Durossette represented Ceres High and Central Catholic, respectively.
“To be able to play baseball with him one last time was awesome,” DeWitt said. “We’re such good friends. He’s like a brother to me.”
“I love Brock,” Durossette said. “He’s like one of my brothers. He’s at my house every other day. We do everything together. He means a lot to me. I don’t take our friendship for granted. I cherish it.”
DeWitt, Durossette and the Blue All-Stars topped the Gold All-Stars 3-1 Saturday evening at Stanislaus State.
“I just went out there to have fun,” DeWitt said.
DeWitt batted 1-for-1 from the plate with one run.
He logged playing time at second base in the fourth and fifth innings, and third base in the sixth and seventh.
Durossette pitched in the third inning.
He logged playing time at third base in the fourth and fifth, and first base in the sixth and seventh.
DeWitt accounted for the game’s first run.
He singled in the top of the fourth inning and later scored from third base when the catcher’s throw on his steal attempt went into the outfield.
“That’s what I’ve done all year,” he said.
DeWitt and Durossette played one season together at Ceres High in 2017
The duo helped lead the Bulldogs to a 23-7 overall record, runner-up finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings (12-3) and appearance in the semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV playoffs.
Durossette transferred to Central Catholic midway through his sophomore year.
“We’ve played together since we were 7 or 8,” DeWitt said. “Outside of baseball, we’re such good friends. We hang out all the time.”
“Brock always joked with me that I should transfer back to Ceres and play one more season with him,” Durossette said.
DeWitt had a productive four-year varsity career with the Bulldogs.
He was selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team for the second year in a row this spring.
He was a second-team pick as a sophomore.
DeWitt garnered recognition for his play at shortstop, second base and third base, respectively, the past three seasons. He also starred on offense.
DeWitt batted .387 from the plate with one triple, 10 doubles, 36 hits, 14 RBIs, 29 runs and eight stolen bases while leading Ceres High to a playoff appearance in 2019. He had an on-base percentage of .482.
He posted a batting average of .353 with 13 doubles, two triples, 96 hits, 39 RBIs, 82 runs and 35 stolen bases in 91 career games.
Durossette batted .311 from the plate with one triple, one double, 11 RBIs, 12 runs and 10 stolen bases in 21 games during his junior year at Central Catholic.
He compiled a 3-1 record at pitcher with a 2.10 ERA, and 46 strikeouts in 40 innings.
“It was cool being able to represent my school, especially with the success I had,” DeWitt, a two-time all-star game participant. “It’s one big memory I’ll never forget.”
“I started the season off slow,” Durossette said. “I kept faith in myself. My coaches pushed me. Without the team, I couldn’t have done what I did.”
