STARKVILLE — Dalton and Dustin Skelton have only done this once.
Dalton, a junior infielder at Louisiana Tech, and his brother, Dustin, a freshman catcher at Mississippi State will play against each other for the second time in their lives at 4:30 p.m. today when Louisiana Tech (11-1) takes on MSU (7-5) at Dudy Noble Field.
“We’ve been talking about it all year,” Dalton Skelton said. “It’s all we’ve really talked about.”
The last time the Skelton brothers went against each other was in a summer league game in high school. The success Dalton Skelton remembers was stealing a base on Dustin.
“If he’s catching, he’s going to get an opportunity to throw me out,” Dalton said. “He’s had one opportunity before and he failed, so hopefully he gets another opportunity.”
Dalton’s performance to date suggests Dustin, or any of MSU’s catchers, will get that opportunity. Dalton has started all 12 games this year and has an on-base percentage of .383. Last season, he hit .313 and was 15-for-15 in stolen bases at Jones County Community College.
Skelton has thrown out 4 of 8 runners in his first season at MSU.
The Skeltons’ success in college comes on the heels of their combined success in high school. Dustin Skelton won five-straight state championships before signing with MSU. Dalton won two of those titles with Dustin.
“Dustin played catcher and Dalton played shortstop; anywhere Dustin threw it, Dalton made him look good,” said Jimmy Skelton, Dalton’s and Dustin’s father.
The brothers entertained the idea of reuniting in college to re-create the same magic.
“We thought about if I didn’t get any good offers out of Jones (C.C.), we thought about me trying to go over there and walk on, just so we could play together,” Dalton Skelton said. “If not, I was just going to go to school. We always wanted to play with each other in college, but maybe now we can take it to another level after (college).”
Jimmy Skelton said the family is excited to watching Dalton and Dustin play against each other. He estimates roughly 20 people connected to the two of them will be in Starkville for the game. He said that group will wear Louisiana Tech hats, MSU hats, and custom T-shirts.
Jimmy Skelton said some members of that group will have T-shirts with “We love the Skelton boys” on them with a baseball. He believes other members of the family made their own shirts.
Dalton Skelton said aunts and uncles from a few hours away will be at the game.
“It’s going to be totally amazing,” Jimmy Skelton said.
Said Dalton, “I think it’ll be a little different. We’ve always been pushing for each other on the same team or outside the fence cheering for one another. We’re so competitive with each other. One of us has to be better than the other. It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out.”
NOTES: This is the first game of a six-game, non-conference homestand for MSU. … Right-hander Jacob Billingsley is scheduled to start for MSU, while right-hander Casey Sutton is scheduled to start for Louisiana Tech. … The game will be streamed live on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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