Not many people can say that they play the sport they love at the college level with their life-long friends but lucky for one Wildcat, he can.

Chris Dalto was first introduced to baseball through his family. He began watching it on the television with his father and eventually started playing after he watched his older brother play. Since then, he recalled being in love with baseball since he was 4 years old.

As he continued to play throughout the years, he found constant support and motivation from his family, which helped push him to keep pursuing baseball and compete at the college level.

“Hitting my first walk off hit during my year at JUCO, in front of my grandparents, was a special moment for me and made find a deeper passion for [baseball],” Dalto said.

Dalto was first recruited to a junior college in California where he spent a year. Three days before school started, he received a call from coach Wilson at CWU about the possibility of playing here. He knew right away that he wanted to make the switch because two guys he grew up with and played baseball with since they were younger had already committed to play at CWU.

Having friends already at CWU made it an easier transition for him.

“He he had the tools that we needed and also had connections that helped us find him. We needed infielders and he fit right in with the program and team,” said Head coach Desi Storey. “His leadership and confidence was another bonus as was knowing we would have him for three years.”

Dalto has had great success this season on the field, earning Player of the Week for April 10 and NCBWA West Region Player of the Week. Dalto is hitting .323 on the season with two home runs, 13 runs batted in, and eight doubles.  On the mound, he has a 1.74 earned run average in 10 appearances and five saves.

“Hitting my first home run this season against NNU was definitely something I’ll remember as a Wildcat and probably my favorite memory so far at CWU,” Dalto said.

The thing he loves most about baseball is when the first pitch is about to be thrown. He finds the most excitement is that knowing he gets to play his favorite sport every day.

After college he hopes to continue his baseball career and get drafted to the league as a pitcher or middle infielder.

“Dalto is an entertaining player, mentally and physically, he has the tools and just enjoys playing the game as hard as he can every day,” said assistant coach Scott Stone. “He is confident and comfortable with who he is as a player and isn’t afraid to fail.”