High school baseball: Lyons juggles 2 sports in the same season

OREM — A high school kid playing three sports is pretty rare these days.

Even more rare is an athlete like Timpanogos senior Taylor Lyons. He plays two of the sports in the same season — baseball and track — and excels in all three, proving that he's an athlete worthy of being noticed.

Lyons doesn't have the luxury of taking it easy this spring despite his natural talent.

"It's been hard because I hurt my hamstring and I've had to rehab that," Lyons said.

Arguably the fastest high school athlete in Utah after track teammate Silas Pimental graduated — Lyons finished second to him in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at state meet in 2007 — his track time has been limited since baseball comes first and extra running comes after games.

"I don't want to be sore for the game so I will just run after, and run some hills somewhere and catch some time at the track," Lyons said.

"He's a good worker," said T-Wolves baseball coach Kim Nelson. "He will do what he needs to try and be a successful as he can."

Nelson knows how special of an athlete he has and supports Lyons' efforts in competing in two sports at once.

"I've always supported that as long as (he) is upfront and honest with not having a muscle that's a little sore or something that way they shouldn't go and hurt it worse," Nelson said. "(If they) are smart about that stuff, it's good to support."

Lyons' hamstring is just beginning to heal. "I'm good enough to be in the field," Lyons said. "I've been playing on it. I just haven't been going full out."

With Lyons coming back to 100 percent, he put up a good time in his first track meet of the year. Coming in a timely manner as the quest for a state title is in the homestretch.

"My first time was 11.08, so that's not bad getting right back into it," Lyons said. "So I'll train for about a month before state and do some good times."

Lyons' main focus and love is baseball, and it's a sport where his speed comes in handy as Timpanogos' leadoff man. He can do all the things required at the top of the order, hit for contact or lay down a bunt. Plus stretching singles into doubles and doubles into triples.

And he has shown a little bit of power by hitting two home runs so far this year.