Michael Dattalo’s 2023 season placed him among the best freshmen in the country and earned him a spot on Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-American Team this past month.
Dattalo’s special year garnered more acclaim Thursday as the Northwestern State third baseman was named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-Louisiana Baseball Team, earning second-team honors at third base. The team is selected by a statewide vote of sports information directors and media personnel.
A 6-foot, 200-pounder from Keller, Texas, Dattalo led Northwestern State in batting average (.372), hits (83), total bases (125), slugging percentage (.561) and shared the team lead with five sacrifice flies. He ranked second on the team with eight home runs and 27 walks while his 39 RBIs were third most, two shy of Jake Haze’s team-leading total of 41.
Dattalo’s 83 hits are tied for fourth most in school single-season history and established a freshman school record. His 125 total bases are eighth in program single-season history, and his 18 doubles left him one shy of a tie for 10th in NSU single-season history.
Dattalo’s 25 multi-hit games were a team high and his 10 multi-RBI games were third on the team. Dattalo posted nine three-hit games, another team best, and had half of NSU’s six four-hit games this season.
Dattalo finished his first collegiate season ranked in the top 100 nationally in toughest to strike out (11.2, 34th), hits per game (1.48, 72nd), hits (81st) and batting average (83rd).
National champion LSU’s Tommy White was the first-team selection at third base.
