Dustin Carder: Baseball was his passion
By Mike Harper
Since the beginning of athletic contests, a debate has persisted as to what is the most difficult skill for an athlete of normal physical dimensions to master. Ted Williams, the legendary slugger who spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox, was quite outspoken on the question by championing the position that hitting a baseball thrown by a professional pitcher was the most challenging athletic skill to master.
2024 Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Dustin Carder, provides considerable support for the Williams argument. In his prime, Dustin could deliver his fastball to the plate consistently in the 95-96 miles per hour range. On a good day, he could post speeds of 98 miles per hour, possibly faster. Consider the challenge facing a batter who stepped up to the plate to face Carder. First, Carder presented a formidable physical presence standing 6 feet, 5 inches, weighing in at 220 pounds. The distance between the pitching rubber and home plate measures 60 feet, 6 inches meaning that the batter has less than ½ second to decide whether to swing, take the pitch or run for his life. It’s hard to imagine a more daunting athletic challenge.
Dustin Carder was born on February 2, 1987, to Doyle and Caroline Carder. During his early years in Fannin County, Dustin played a variety of sports but the game of baseball was his passion. He was coached throughout his youth by his father, Doyle, and his uncle Jim Dupont. Dustin gives his dad high marks for the countless hours that he devoted to helping Dustin develop his considerable talents as the years passed by. Doyle continued to mentor Dustin into the high school years by coaching Summer League teams.
At Fannin County High School Dustin was coached by David Lunsford as he performed as a hard-hitting first baseman and flame-throwing pitcher from 2001-2005. During his senior campaign, he posted some impressive offensive stats including a .372 batting average, a slugging average of .797, while clouting 8 home runs and driving in 27 runs.
The years of hard work paid off and Dustin was awarded an athletic scholarship to play on the diamond for the Georgia State University Panthers. Used primarily as a relief pitcher at Georgia State, he played there for two seasons, finishing second on the team with 23 pitching appearances in 2006.
Dustin moved on to Southern Poly in Kennesaw, Georgia for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. During his senior year, he posted a record of 7-0 while appearing in 21 games. He was named to the all-conference second team as a senior while leading Southern Poly to a record of 53-10 and a 5th place finish in the NAIA World Series. His contribution to the effort was highlighted when he pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the victory in a 6-5 decision over Campbellsville, Kentucky.
Following his college career, Dustin Carder was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009. He pitched in the Oriole organization as a relief pitcher for two seasons.
He played on season in the Gulf Coast League and one season with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League. In two seasons, he posted an ERA of 3.30 and recorded four saves. He was released by the Orioles in the winter of 2010 and received an offer to continue his career in an independent league. Dustin made the decision to pursue a family life with his wife and high school sweetheart, Sara Plush, in a career with more stability than the nomadic life of a baseball player trying to climb through the minor leagues.
In 2011 Dustin accepted a position with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office. Since that time he has moved up through the ranks as a detention officer, Deputy Sheriff and Corporal with the canine division. He is currently assigned to Investigations and has excelled as a law enforcement officer for not only Fannin County but all of North Georgia.
Dustin and Sara currently make their home in Mineral Bluff and have two beautiful daughters, Brintlie and Adaley.