Drew Pixley Hornell Dodger catcher

Drew Pixley, who is currently playing baseball for the Mineral Area Cardinals, packed his bags and headed east Saturday morning for New York where he was invited to play for the Hornell Dodgers in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).

"It's a chance of a lifetime," the 19-year-old Pixley said. "It's an invite only league. They said I got a pretty good recommendation from SIU's coach then they called my coach at Mineral Area. They said they needed a catcher and I said okay."

Provided photo Former Dexter High School standout catcher Drew Pixley is shown in action during one of the Mineral Area Cardinals games this season. Pixley, who will be a sophomore, will be playing for the Hornell Dodgers in the New York Collegiate Baseball League this summer in New York.

The Wooden Bat League as it is sometime referred to, consists of 14 teams that play a 42-game schedule. The adventure for Pixley is just another turn in the road and will lead the personable young man away from his Southeast Missouri roots for at least two months and maybe through mid-August or longer if the team does well.

"It will be a great opportunity for me," Pixley commented. "I'll be playing with some D-1 (Division 1) players and other quality college players from all around the country. It will definitely prepare be better for next season with the Cardinals."

The Hornell Dodgers have been a road stop for numerous players looking to go the distance in baseball. Tim Hudson (Atlanta Braves), Rajai David (Oakland A's), Josh Kinney (St. Louis Cardinals) have all worn the Dodger blue and white on their way to professional careers.

Pixley, who is listed on the Dodgers' roster as a switch-hitting catcher-outfielder, had a stellar career at Dexter High School where he excelled in both baseball and football. He won numerous all-conference and all-district awards in both sports.

Pixley said one of the main differences between high school and college ball, is the depth and quality of the players, and the fact that they do a lot more running. "We didn't run much in high school, but I do now."

The 5'10, 165-pound college sophomore, said he has used most of his shorten summer break to hit the weight room.

"We lifted pretty hard in the fall and winter, but once spring arrived, it was either practice or games."

Pixley started as a freshman catcher for the Cardinals and was part of a 29-20 season, the most successful for current Mineral Area coach Jim Eerwitz.

"Being one of the younger guys didn't stop me from trying to be a team leader," he noted. "To be a catcher you've got to be a leader. It takes someone that loves to catch to catch. If you don't like it you won't last very long."

Also on the Mineral Area team are Josh Stevens, another former Bearcats who pitches, Josh Logan of Jackson and Seth Blackwell of Poplar Bluff.

Pixley will be making the trip to New York with SIU's Jimmy Cornell, a Twin Rivers graduate.

"Jimmy is driving and I'm riding," Pixley laughed. Both will play for the Hornell Dodgers.

Pixley said players will stay with host families while they participate in the league. He added the team will travel to games around the state on a chartered bus.

Drew's father is Aaron Pixley, the head football and assistant baseball coach at DHS.

So how does your family feel about you spending the summer so far from home?

"They are all excited, but at the same time they are going to miss me," he pointed out. "I don't think my mom really wants me to go, but she knows it's what I want."

It is apparent what Drew wants, but we'll all have to wait and see where that road leads.