MUSKEGON - More often than not, Blake Dunn's uniform is coated with dirt. His beard appears more gnarly by the day.
To call him a "dirtball" would not be an insult. For Dunn and players like him, it's actually a compliment. It's his mentality.
"(Muskegon Clippers teammate) Nolan Bryant is a lot that way, too," Clippers manager Walt Gawkowski said about Dunn's and Bryant's hard-nosed attitudes. "They'll do anything to beat you, whether it's diving or sliding or whatever it takes. They're going to do it. They want to win."
A 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder/closer/offensive spark plug for Muskegon's Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League team, Dunn has been blessed with athleticism.