Eric SorensonLast week was twice as nice for Liberty High School senior Tyler Wyatt.
Just hours after officially signing his baseball letter of intent to play for head coach Andy Stankiewicz at Grand Canyon University he helped officially ended Paradise Valley’s playoff run, engineering the Lions’ football team to their first ever Division II State Semi-Final appearance.
Versatility has defined Wyatt since he stepped on the north Peoria campus three-and-a-half years ago. As a member of the varsity football team he’s played wide receiver, punter and quarterback. While on the baseball diamond he’s a strikeout machine on the mound, as well as a slick-fielding middle infielder.
His success stretches far past the playing field.
“Just being a great leader,” Liberty head football coach Danny Filleman told Sports360AZ.com after the 11-1 Lions 42-13 pasting of the Trojans last week. “That’s what makes him special. He just has that desire to win ballgames.”
He won six as a pitcher last season and struck out an eye popping 87 batters in just 73.1 innings. He also flashed excellent control walking just 26. Oh, did I mention he batted .472 with 40 runs batted in and 21 doubles? Pretty easy to see why GCU believes Wyatt could be a big part of their future.
Wyatt says there’s plenty to like about the Lopes, as well.
“The team’s great. The coaches are great…and they’re giving me a great opportunity to go play baseball at the next level.”
For now the six-foot, 185-pounder’s sole focus is taking the Lions’ football team to the next level-starting with a showdown against Vail Cienega under the lights at Paradise Valley High School Friday night.
“We’re getting better and better each week,” Wyatt explained after their blowout of previous one-loss PV. “We’re actually starting to peak at the right time this year. It feels right. It really feels right to be here.”
It seems just about everything is going right for Wyatt these days.
