Marist’s Camryn Lyons lost more than a hitting partner last June when Isabel Cunnea graduated and followed her college dreams to Northwestern.
Lyons also lost her ride to school.
All last year, Cunnea picked her up in the morning and took her home after some post-practice hitting.
“Isabel, I literally looked up to her in every way,” Lyons said. “I never knew what hard work meant until I met her. I hit with her every day and always ran with her.”
Lyons, a Boston University recruit, had the best average on the team during its Class 4A championship season in 2023. She attributes a lot of that to Cunnea’s support.
“Isabel was just the best leader,” Lyons said. “We still FaceTime all the time. I just texted her today. I miss her a lot. Every break, we catch up and hang out for a bit.”
Today, Lyons is the one behind the wheel for the RedHawks. The senior outfielder drives her freshman cousin, Layla Peters, to school.
“We live pretty close,” Peters said. “I was definitely excited when she offered.”
It runs deeper than a ride.
Peters, a starting first baseman, is one of five freshmen on the varsity for Marist.
Lyons is behind the teaching wheel for all of them as well.
Marist’s Camryn Lyons, middle, listens to coach Colleen Phelan at the end of practice at the Marist Sportsplex in Palos Heights on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“It’s definitely different,” Lyons said, smiling. “But I had the best leaders before me who showed me everything that was right to do.
“That’s what I’m trying to do with them and the other underclassmen this season. I’m trying to take them under my wing the way I was undertaken last year.”
It’s already sinking in.
“Camryn is always super nice to us,” Peters said. “We know that any question we have, about softball or anything outside of softball, we can go to her and talk to her about it.
“She’s a good teacher. It’s a new program for us, and it’s hard, obviously, to come into a great team. You’re nervous about a lot of things. But she and our other senior, Caroline (O’Brien), just make it really easy for us.”
Last season, Lyons was a statistical leader for the RedHawks. Hitting fifth in a power-loaded order, her .555 batting average was tops on the team. She had 40 runs, 15 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBIs.
She also was one of Marist’s best situational hitters.
Marist’s Camryn Lyons (10) connects and follows through against Andrew during a nonconference game in Chicago on Monday, March 21, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
“She truly was a selfless player,” O’Brien said of Lyons. “She’ll do anything to move the runner, put the team first and get ahead.”
Lyons was, in a sense, an under-the-radar hero.
She wasn’t a wallflower with her bat, however.
“I never felt nervous going up to the plate,” Lyons said. “I had the best supporters, the best coaches. I knew it was OK when I messed up because I had so many people having my back.
“That helped me a lot last season. The mindset I had was everything I did was for them and not me.”
She didn’t make a lot of headlines on Marist’s journey to the Class 4A state championship. But Lyons’ value wasn’t lost on coach Colleen Phelan.
“From Game 1 through Game 40, she was hot just about every game,” Phelan said. “That’s a really hard thing to do. She hit mostly for average, a lot of doubles, swung the bat with some pop.
“Now, she’s kind of taking that leadership role and driving some of the younger players. She’s just a really, really good kid. One of the best.”
Marist’s Camryn Lyons, right, hugs her teammate and cousin Layla Peters after practice at the Marist Sportsplex in Palos Heights on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
So far this season, Lyons is 5-for-14 with a double, two homers and three RBIs for Marist (3-1).
The team-first attitude is even stronger.
“She’s just such a great teammate,” O’Brien said. “I’ve been playing with her for so long. She’s the first one I call when I need someone to talk to as a friend.
“She’s the last to be hitting, just trying to get better. She’s amazing.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
