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Lawson becomes a Bobcat

Todd Rose | Daily Press Tyler Lawson (center) and parents Deanna (left) and Jim (right) and brother Trent (back) are all smiles after Tyler committed to play baseball at Bryant & Stratton College Thursday afternoon in Escanaba.

ESCANABA — Thursday afternoon, Escanaba’s Tyler Lawson signed his intent to join the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats’ baseball team at the Escanaba Senior High School.

“Overall, it feels great to get signing and get it done,” said Lawson. “Now, I just have to put the work in.”

That work, both in the classroom and on the field, is something Lawson — who will be going for an Associate of Applied Science degree in business — feels prepared for.

“I think, academically, I’m going to be fine. I took a lot of college classes in high school, “he said. “Athletically, it’s just that next step that I’ve been taking my whole life.”

It was through a teammate that Lawson became aware of Bryant & Stratton.

“I had a teammate on my summer baseball team who committed there before I did,” he said. “He kind of let me know about the school and let me in (on it).”

The subsequent interest became mutual between Lawson and the school after he made contact with the program.

“I reached out to their coach, and their coach reached back out to me saying he’s interested in me,” Lawson said. “They threw me a deal, and I took it.”

The offer from Bryant & Stratton wasn’t the only one Lawson had on his plate, however. Both Marion University and Rippen University had expressed interest in Lawson.

“They both gave me great deals,” he said, “but overall, Bryant & Stratton was the best.”

Since he was nine-years-old, Lawson has had Scott Hanson as his coach.

“He’s always been one of my players,” said Hanson. “I know you’re not supposed to play favorites, but he’s been one of those kids who’s always been one of my favorites.”

When Lawson was just a freshman, Hanson made the decision to pull him up. It was a choice some questioned, but it paid off.

“I think a lot of people thought I was crazy when I brought him up,” Hanson said. “He fit in right away and has been my starting catcher since.”

Much can be said about Lawson simply by looking at the responsibilities given to him by Hanson.

“He’s been calling his own game. I haven’t been calling the pitches,” he said. “His baseball IQ is off the charts.”

While Lawson is strongest behind the plate, according to Hanson, he is really an all-rounder who will find any way he can to get on the field. Hanson also says Lawson’s strength lies in his speed and ability to bunt.

“He can throw down a bunt, and his speed is off the charts,” he said. “In today’s world, bunting is kind of a lost art, and he’s a master of it.”

Hanson hopes, after last season’s COVID cancellation, hopes to see Lawson on the field as a senior. One thing he knows for sure is that Bryant & Stratton College is getting a great kid.

“If you ask anyone who’s competed with him … his competitiveness is off the charts,” he said. “They’re pretty lucky to have somebody who brings that to the table.”

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