FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University junior baseball captain Matt Dickason has been named the Longwood Male Athlete of the Week. He hit .412 (7-17) in four games last week with one double, one RBI, four runs and two walks. Dickason posted a pair of three-hit efforts at Presbyterian in the first two games of the weekend's three-game series on May 10-11, both wins during a three-win week for the Lancers. Through the 50-game regular season, Dickason started 40 of 42 games and leads Longwood with his .321 batting average that includes one triple, 10 doubles, 12 RBI, 24 runs, 11 walks and two stolen bases.
Question and Answer Session with Matt Dickason and Ashley Robbins
AR: Talk about the season so far and how you’ve been so productive for the team.
MD: This has been a great season and we have surprised a lot of people who didn't think we could play this well. In the offseason, I worked on hitting almost every day to help improve my batting average after not hitting as well as I would have liked to last year.
AR: What are your goals for the remainder of the season as a team and individually?
MD: My goals for the team would be to win the Big South Tournament and individually, I hope to make All-Conference.
AR: Now that you're an upperclassman, do you give advice to the younger players?
MD: Being an upperclassman and the team captain, I find myself giving advice quite a bit.
AR: What does it mean to you to get to play in the Big South Tournament?
MD: Playing in the Big South tournament in our first year is definitely a huge accomplishment and we are practicing like we have all year because that's what got us here.
AR: What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten from Coach Bolding?
MD: The best piece of advice I've ever gotten from Coach Bolding is to be a man. No matter what it is in life, always take responsibility for what you do and do it to the best of your ability.
AR: Why did you choose Longwood?
MD: I chose Longwood because I felt it was the best opportunity for me to prove myself as a baseball player and as a person.
AR: Who is you favorite pro athlete and what is your favorite team?
MD: My favorite pro athlete is Dustin Pedroia and he plays for my favorite team, the Boston Red Sox.
AR: Do you have any role models?
MD: My role models are definitely my parents.
AR: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
MD: I have a superstition of wearing the same arm sleeve and wristband each game along with drinking Dr. Pepper before every game. That is a must.
AR: What are you majoring in and what do you hope to do after graduation?
MD: I am majoring in accounting and I hope to have a job in that field after I graduate.
