Lyon's Den

Josh Lyon's statistical résumé from his junior season would have to lower its voice just to be categorized as merely gaudy. In 2007, the Heritage Christian catcher was among the leaders in the Indianapolis area in batting average (.538), doubles (13), home runs (13) and runs driven in (37) - numbers that might prompt a less-motivated individual to rest on his laurels. Lyon likes to relax as much as the next guy. That is, if you think relaxing means hitting the weight room after one of Heritage Christian's baseball games to work up yet another good sweat. Lyon does, which explains why the kid, who as a freshman weighed 185 pounds, now checks in at a solid 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. "Josh has gone from a tall freshman with some baby fat to someone who has lived in the weight room and has become a premier catcher," said Eagles' coach Dan Ambrose. Impressive numbers aside, there were and are things to work on in order to make Lyon a more-complete baseball player, a more-feared commodity as a senior than he was as a junior. "With his swing," Ambrose said, "Josh had a few holes in it last year and if you could bust him real hard inside with a fastball, that's where you could get him out." Aside from hitting, other things are improving as well. The player who stole only a handful of bases last season is now, according to Ambrose, one of the three of four fastest players on the team. Lyon is a smart, instinctive baserunner who won't hesitate to make an opponent pay out the nose for walking him, intentionally or otherwise. One way or another Lyon is getting on base. Furthermore, he knows what to do once he's there. "What impresses me most about Josh is how much he's improved year in and year out," said Ambrose, who loves telling the story of how Lyon stole home during a tournament game in Tennessee early in the season. But again (no, this is not a recording or a broken record), Lyon recognized his few weaknesses and through hard work did the things necessary to right whatever wrong might have existed. "This kid is absolutely a coach's dream. Josh is literally the star of our team, but he'll mow the field if we ask," said Ambrose. "He's got great parents and he's been raised right." In an early April game against Northwest, Lyon belted a pair of home runs, not only in the same game, but in the same inning. He is now Heritage Christian's career leader in round-trippers having reached 21 in the aformentioned win against the Space Pioneers. Despite playing for a Class 2A program, Lyon's all-around game caught the eye of college recruiters and next season he begins suiting up to play for the Indiana Hoosiers. By then he'll be older and will have seen more of what the sport of baseball has to offer. Added muscle is great. Practices are, too. But to Lyon, there is no substitute for good old-fashioned game experience. "Baseball can be pretty hard at times, but when you get older the game really slows down and things come more naturally," said Lyon. "I just see the ball well and try to be patient at the plate. I guess it's just good vision." Good enough to see into the future? Probably not, yet it's safe to assume both Lyon and IU baseball will be in a good place together. It's worked for Heritage Christian.