Dakota Pruitt

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Former Riverdale Ridge High School baseball player Dakota Pruitt is packing his bags for his next collegiate stop, Nebraska-Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb.

Pruitt played this spring at Otero Junior College in southern Colorado, mainly seeing time as a pitcher.

“Nebraska Wesleyan had a great atmosphere and campus,” Pruitt said. “The city of Lincoln is also super down to earth and chill as well. It just seemed like a great fit.”

Pruitt is looking at a career in physical therapy once college and his playing days conclude.

“Their science center is brand new and a pretty huge reason for their attendance rate,” he said. "They are an all-academic school, so that’s a huge priority for me.”

In his season with the Rattlers, Pruitt had a base hit in two at-bats. The hit was a double. On the mound, Pruitt struck out 28 batters in 23 ⅔ innings of work.

“I had a few schools reach out. But in the end, this was the school that was the best fit for me and my aspirations,” he said.

As a senior for the Ravens, Pruitt batted .370 in 16 games (the season was shortened because of COVID-19). He had 20 hits, drove in 19 runs and scored 17 runs. He appeared in seven games as a pitcher. In 17 innings, he allowed 20 hits and struck out 26.

“The distance did not play a factor, actually,” Pruitt said. “My parents were very supportive of my decisions, despite me thinking otherwise. But, the only thing that I wanted was a place to play some ball with a great program. The seven-hour drive just happens to be a perk.”