ODA catcher and third baseman to play for the Cougars

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Tyler Dietrich and Desmond Lindsey both envisioned playing college baseball — just not together.

But that all changed last week when The Out-of-Door Academy sophomores verbally committed to play baseball for the University of Houston, a Division I school, once their prep careers are over.

“It just happened that way,” Lindsey said. “It’s going to make the transition into college a lot easier knowing I’ll have a friend there.”

Dietrich, who is the Thunder’s catcher, and Lindsey, who plays third base and occasionally first base, both attended the University of Houston’s Prospect Camp last week.

After playing a game, the coaches pulled the two players aside and spoke with them about the team and their future. Dietrich and Lindsey both were impressed enough to commit.

“I like the campus and the coaches,” Dietrich said. “I just thought it was the place for me.”

“I just wanted the opportunity to play in college,” Lindsey said. “It’s not about going to a big school. I just want to go to college and play.”

Dietrich verbally committed Aug. 7 and Lindsey declared his intentions the following day.

“Words can’t describe how excited I was,” Dietrich said

Dietrich and Lindsey have been playing baseball together since they were about 8 years old. This spring, the pair helped lead the Thunder to an 18-5 record, a district runner-up finish and a Class 3A regional quarterfinal appearance.

Dietrich finished the season with a .471 batting average, 18 RBIs and 12 stolen bases and was named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s All-State Team while Lindsey batted .310 with 22 RBIs and seven stolen bases.

“I’m happy for them and I’m happy for the school,” said coach Billy Dietrich, who is also Tyler Dietrich’s dad. “This is only going to bring good things for the other players.

“I think they made the right decision for them. It’s a great opportunity. They’re going to get a chance to play, and now they just have to be able to step up to the table and perform,” Billy Dietrich said.

Following their freshman season, Tyler Dietrich and Lindsey continued playing travel ball for Team Impact out of Naples. The two will wrap up their travel ball season with a tournament Labor Day weekend in Cary, N.C.

Both Dietrich and Lindsey are looking forward to a much-needed break before reconvening later this year in preparation for their sophomore season. Although knowing they are committed and will continue playing alongside one another following their prep careers has made the entire process that much more enjoyable.

“It’s like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders,” Lindsey said. “Now I can go to school and keep getting good grades and not worry if colleges are (watching) me play now.”

Tyler Dietrich agreed.

“It’s comforting because I’m not going to be like an outcast,” Tyler Dietrich said. “I know I’ll have a friend on campus, and now I don’t have to go to prospect camps and try and get my name out there.”