PBR senior writer/regional scout Jeff Letofsky talked with Sedgwick County High School senior pitcher/shortstop Chase Dunker (Northeastern Junior College commit) to talk about his and his team's season and his future in baseball. 

NAME: Chase Dunker
YEAR: Senior (2014)
SCHOOL: Sedgwick County High School
LOCATION: Julesburg, Colorado
CLASSIFICATION: 2A
POSITION: Pitcher/shortstop
THROWS/HITS: Left/left
HEIGHT: 5-foot-11
WEIGHT: 170 pounds
COMMIT: Northeastern Junior College, Sterling, CO
 
PBR: Obviously, you are a strike thrower having struck out 93 batters in  35 2/3 innings. Is that why you've had such success?
Dunker: Having confidence is the biggest thing. I have confidence in my defense knowing if the other team hits the ball my defense will make the play.

PBR: Your fastball has been clocked in the upper 80s and touching 90. What other pitches do you rely on?
Dunker: My curveball and my changeup. I have a knuckelball I throw 5 percent of the time. I mostly use my fastball but will throw my curveball for a first-pitch strike and use my changeup later in the count. 

PBR: Have you always been a strikeout pitcher and when did that start?
Dunker: I never dreamed of striking out this many kids. Even when I was little I didn't strike out that many people. I just kind of played the outfield and by the time I was in seventh or eighth grade, I started throwing harder. After that I started to become a pitcher rather than a thrower.

PBR: Where do you play when you don't pitch and do you consider yourself a good hitter?
Dunker: Even though I'm left-handed, I play shortstop when I'm not pitching. Being athletic allows me to play there. I've always played there ever since I've been little. I'm hitting .500 so I consider myself a pretty good hitter.

PBR: What are your ambitions at the next level?
Dunker: I plan on playing the outfield and plan on pitching. Pitching definitely is the priority. If they need me at any other position, I'll do that. I love all the aspects of the game with pitching being my first priority and hitting after that.

PBR: Do you play any other sports?
Dunker: I've played football and basketball in high school. In football, I was all-conference my junior and senior years in both. We haven't had much luck in the playoffs. In basketball, we lost in the consolation championship one year.

PBR: Who do you credit your success to?
Dunker: My dad and all the coaches I've had. Both of my parents pushed me in everything I do. My dad played college baseball at Colby, Kan. 

PBR: What do you plan on studying in college and what profession will you be pursuing?
Dunker: I'm going to major in agriculture business. My grandparents have a big farm and eventually I want to work as a farm loan officer.

PBR: Your team is 16-1 and among the top teams in Class 1A. Is a state championship a reality?
Dunker: Coming into season we had big expectations. We had big sophomore and freshmen classes coming back and it was important that they had that year to grow. A state championship is where we want to be at the end of the year. Last year we lost in the district semis to Yuma. We definitely want to be in the Final Four this year.

PBR senior writer Jeff Letofsky