Oceanside has been knocking on the doorstep for a Nassau County Class AA title for the past couple years. This season, they were defeated by the eventual champions from Massapequa on a walk-off RBI single by Chris Wasson. Despite the loss, they finished the season with a record of 17-5-1. A big reason for their postseason run was catcher Dylan Judd. The 2018 grad is well-regarded as a receiver and can handle the bat exceptionally well for a catcher.
The 6’1″ 180 lb catcher was one of the top players available in the class, until last week when he committed to Div-I UMASS Amherst. He plays his summer ball with the East Coast Jays.
He spoke with Vinny Messana and here’s what he had to say…
Walk us through the college recruiting process and how the UMass-Amherst commit came to be
I was fortunate where I was speaking to several schools and also was given the option of playing football in college too. Once I decided that I wanted to concentrate only on baseball, I narrowed the schools down to the ones that gave me the best academic and athletic opportunities which included a few baby IVY league schools. I’ve been speaking with the UMass-Amherst baseball coaches since June and it was school that checked off all the boxes for me. A coaching staff that is hungry to compete and win, a large school that has a lot of campus life, my major (Pre-Med) and they were ranked #1 in campus food.
Oceanside has been really successful the past few years, what has that experience been like?
It has been a great experience all around, from coaches, to teachers and to being surrounded by talented teammates. Since my freshman year, competing in the baseball and football playoffs has been exciting and provided life learning lessons. This year, I think we have our best chance of winning the County Championship in both sports. It should be an exciting year for Oceanside.
Who have some influential people in your life been?
Some influential people in my life have been both of my parents as well as my coaches. My mom and dad have always encouraged me to play baseball at the highest level I could, as well supporting me in everything I do in life. My coaches have been great role models and have allowed me to become the player I am today.
Who are some athletes you look up to?
One athlete I look up to is Derek Jeter. Aside from being one of the best shortstops to every play in the MLB, his off-the-field conduct and demeanor sets him apart from other athletes. The media never had anything negative to say about Jeter and I think that speaks volumes about who he was as a player and person. My current favorite athlete would have to be Gary Sanchez, one of the best pure hitters in the MLB.
