By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Randy and Mary Jo Dillard have been down this road before. Safe to say, it’s probably more exciting for their son, Dylan.

Dillard, an outfielder and pitcher for Osceola High, recently signed a scholarship to play at Jacksonville University.

His older sister, Ashton Ackerman, earned a swimming grant to Rice in 2006.

Dillard said the signing came about over the summer when playing in a large tournament in Ft. Myers with his travel team, the Orlando Scorpions.

“We were playing the Texas Rangers’ developmental team and there were all kinds of scouts,” he said. “They had this pitcher throwing hard and I went 2-for-3 off him. Right after that they came to me and starting talking about playing for them.”

Dillard, the Kowboys’ first Division I signee since B.J. Zimmerman signed with UCF in 2008, said that he also had conversations with Appalachian State, Florida Southern and High Point (N.C.) College. He said that the Dolphins have tabbed him as a corner outfielder.

Entering the 5A District 5 tournament, Dillard was hitting .408 with 21 RBIs in 21 games. Dillard played four varsity seasons for three OHS coaches — Jim Murphy as a freshman, Nick James the following two years, and Scott Birchler this year. Birchler coached against him at Liberty the last two years, so he already had a book on him.

“Dylan’s always been one of the better hitters here, we used to try to work around him,” Birchler said. “I’ve come to learn his work ethic and leadership. He works hard every day and knows how to compete. That work has paid off, but the work is just beginning.”

Birchler said Dillard’s skill set will mesh well with the college game, but he’ll have to adjust to the everyday grind.

“From here on out, it’s a job,” the coach said. “You go to work every day, then get on a bus every so often. But, in time, he’ll do fine.”

Dillard said that is fine with him.

“I’m just going to keep doing what I can to get better. I’m playing in the Florida Collegiate Summer League,” he said.

The FCSL is a wood-bat league that plays in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties.

Jacksonville, under Coach Terry Alexander, plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference, which also includes nearby Stetson University, which has been ranked this season in the Collegiate America baseball poll. The Dolphins have reached the NCAA Regionals five times since 2001.