BERKELEY – After seizing a starting role in the outfield late in the 2017 season, Cal's Tanner Dodson carried that momentum into the summer and only continued to get better as the junior from Elk Grove, Calif. was officially named batting champion of the prestigious Cape Cod League at the conclusion of the regular season.
 
Dodson, who starred both at the plate and on the mound for the Wareham Gatemen this summer, hit .365 in 29 games played. After the league wrapped up its regular season on Thursday, Dodson finished with a 14-point lead over Wichita State's Alec Bohm in the batting average category. The junior-to-be ended his summer with 35 hits in 96 at-bats, scored 12 runs, drove in 14 and had eight doubles. He also had 10 multi-hit games.
 
Just as he did throughout his sophomore season in Berkeley, Dodson also contributed on the mound, compiling a 1-2 record and 3.69 ERA in eight appearances. His peripheral stats were perhaps the most impressive as the right-hander struck out 16 and walked just five in 24.1 innings pitched.
 
The standout summer comes as no surprise after Dodson was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as a sophomore in 2017. He compiled a .297 batting average, led the team with 14 doubles and added three triples, three home runs, 29 runs scored and 26 RBI while often wowing fans with tremendous defense in center field. He served as Cal's opening day starter on the mound and made 19 appearances, both as a starter and a reliever, while striking out 48 hitters in 52 innings pitched.
 
Dodson and the rest of the Golden Bears will return to Berkeley later this month to begin the new school year under new head coach Mike Neu. Cal welcomes back a strong returning core after a young squad finished in a tie for fifth in the Pac-12 in 2017.