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Hyams gave Eagles edge

June 20, 2008 12:16 am

BY STEVE FRANZELLO

By the time Levi Hyams started his senior year at Colonial Forge High School last fall, he had already lived in North Carolina, Japan, Florida, California (twice) and Virginia.

As the son of a U.S. Marine, the talented shortstop for the Eagles baseball team was used to coping with changes and adapting to new friends and teammates.

But this year was not the same. His new school presented a much different environment for Hyams, who had attended only private schools. He spent his previous three years at Santa Fe Christian School in Oceanside, Calif.

While there, he helped the school's baseball team to a 26-6 record as a junior and was named player of the year. His performance impressed the University of Georgia enough that it offered him a partial scholarship.

Hyams' arrival at Colonial Forge was a big deal, then, considering that he had just left a school of fewer than 800 students for one with an enrollment of more than 1,800.

But as he had done many times before, the hard-working son of Mike and Anne Hyams made the fit a good one--both in the classroom and on the baseball diamond.

After an early adjustment period to life in a large public school system, he made the transition and became well-liked by his teachers and his peers, compiling a solid 3.6 grade-point average.

On the field, his steady play and quiet leadership helped propel the Eagles to the state championship game. Hyams was rewarded for his contribution with a berth on the all-Group AAA second team.

In a year that produced other area players with better numbers statistically, Hyams stood out for the major role he played in Colonial Forge's finest season, and is The Free Lance-Star's Player of the Year.

"He was able to overcome a lot of pressure and put together a great season," Eagles coach Shawn Szakelyhidi said. "Levi's personality is infectious. He's got a great approach to the game, but also to practice and life."

Hyams anchored a near-flawless middle infield along with all-state second baseman Jason Kittell. The Eagles won 20 games and the Commonwealth District and Northwest Region titles.

At the plate, Hyams batted .408, collected 28 RBIs and led the team with eight home runs, 33 runs scored and nine doubles. His accomplishments were recognized by the Commonwealth District coaches, who chose him as the league's co-player of the year along with North Stafford's Zach Miller.

To understand Hyams' real value to the Eagles in his one season with the team, you need only to talk to the players and coaches who shared it with him.

"He came in having already signed with a college, but he poured his heart into practice and everybody took note of it," said Kittell, who will play at Virginia Commonwealth University next season.

Hyams' blue-collar work ethic and dedication were instant hits with Szakelyhidi.

"In practice, he didn't take a play off," the veteran coach said. "He practiced like every situation was a game. We as coaches noticed that from day one, and it filtered down to the younger kids. They watched how he practiced."

The work ethic and dedication were instilled in Hyams at an early age and have been major factors in his life and baseball career wherever he has been.

"Since he was 10 years old through his junior year, skill was important," Mike Hyams said about his son's formula for success. "But just as important was his ability to be a good teammate and be respectful. That has really carried him."

Those traits couldn't have come at a better time for Szakelyhidi and the Eagles. Colonial Forge had lost 10 players from a talented squad that won a school-record 23 games in 2007.

"The timing was right as far as us losing so many kids from last year," Szakelyhidi said. "He led by example."

Like the rest of the Eagles, Hyams struggled in the early season as the team searched for its identity. The talent was there with players like durable pitcher Colin McManus and hard-hitting outfielder Shayne Paskanik. But it wasn't until midseason that things really started to come together.

"I didn't know what to expect coming in, but as the season progressed and we started enjoying playing together, the chemistry kicked in," Hyams said. "That made a huge difference, especially around midseason."

After a one-sided loss to Stafford, the Eagles rode a seven-game winning streak into the district tournament, where they lost to Mountain View in the semifinals. According to Hyams, that defeat turned things around.

"We slipped up a little bit," Hyams said. "But after that game, the seniors made up our minds that this was our last season and we were going out with a bang."

Five straight wins followed, including comeback victories over Forest Park, Albemarle and Lake Braddock before a loss to defending champion James River in the state final.

Hyams played some of his best baseball during the streak, pounding out seven hits in 15 at-bats. One of them was a grand slam in a 13-12 region semifinal slugfest over Albemarle. In the state title game, he had two of the Eagles' five hits.

It was a tough way for Hyams and his teammates to end a special season. But it was a ride that none of them will ever forget, especially the likable shortstop.

"The unfortunate thing is that Levi was here for only one year," Szakelyhidi said. "But at the same time, having him one year is better than not at all. Whether he knows it or not, he's allowed our younger kids to see what it takes to be successful."

Steve Franzello: 540/374-5440
Email: sports@freelancestar.com