The last time Brownstown Central won a baseball sectional was in 1982 when John Lawson was a member of the team.

John is presently head coach of the Braves, and his son, Tyler, is a pitcher/first baseman.

At the top of the list of Tyler’s goals this spring is to help the Braves bring home a sectional trophy.

“I guess the pitchers are going to have to keep throwing strikes,” he said. “The defense has been really solid this year. We have to keep that up, infielders keep the ball in front of them and don’t make many errors and keep hitting the ball hard.

“It takes a lot of teamwork. You can only do so much in baseball. You have to rely on a lot of other people, and that makes the team aspect really help a lot, and it really helps to build team camaraderie. It’s always fun when you’re doing well because you always build off other people and have fun with other people.”

Lawson said he has three main pitches he throws in games.

“Usually I go with a 4-seam fastball, a curveball and a changeup,” he said. “Sometimes I throw a 2-seam fastball.

“The difference in grip makes the 2-seam tail more, so it tails away from the batter more, me being a left-hander throwing to a righty. It goes a little bit further away from them. I don’t throw the 2-seam very much.”

On the mound, Lawson always looks to get ahead of the count.

“Getting ahead in the count will put you at the advantage first of all, and it gives you the freedom to throw whatever you want because you know you have at least one pitch to work with,” Lawson said.

“Sometimes it’s more likely to start with a fastball lower in the order, but usually I like to keep it switched up and throw whatever whenever. I think being left-handed helps a lot.”

Lawson said hitting the catchers’ target is important to him.

“That’s more what I rely on because I don’t throw very hard,” he said. “I rely more on off-speed and keeping hitters guessing and just being able to hit corners and spots like that.”

When he isn’t pitching, Lawson typically plays at first base.

“Whenever a ball is hit in the infield it always seems like you’re involved at first base,” Lawson said. “That is where they usually throw to get the out so it’s a good way to keep you in the game.

“If somebody is bunting, usually the first baseman charges until they see that they’re not going to get the ball, then you can go back to the base and let the second baseman have it.”

Every time he’s at the plate, Lawson has the same plan.

“It’s usually best to keep it simple early,” Lawson said. “You just look for a fastball. I’ve been hitting lower in the order this year so usually a pitcher likes to throw a fastball to start off, and likes to get ahead so just look for a fastball early, and adjust from there.

“I just try to hit the ball hard, a line drive or on the ground.”

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Name: Tyler Lawson

School: Brownstown Central High School

Parents: John and Susan

Sibling: Rebecah

Sports: baseball 4 years, basketball 1 year,

Athletic highlights: baseball: 2015 All-Mid-Southern conference, pitching award

Organizations: National Honor Society, teen tutors club, Christian Club, Science Club, Brownstown Academic Club

Plans after high school: attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, study exercise science

Favorite food: tacos

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite athlete: Cincinnati Reds

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What’s it like attending BCHS?

A: “It seems at Brownstown Central you can really build close relationships with other people and also with teachers. The teachers are very helpful. They are also there to help out if you want help and get better. The teachers are always very nice.”

Q: Do you have an advantage playing at home?

A:  “The home games are fun. It’s always good to play in a familiar area. We’ve played here a lot so we really know what’s going on. It’s nice to have more hometown people show up and to have those people to play for.

Q: What’s a highlight of your career?

A: “My sophomore year we were playing Floyd at home. We were up one in the bottom of the sixth and I pinch-hit and got an RBI to give us an insurance run and I thought that was really big because Floyd is a very tough team to beat. We don’t beat them very often.”

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