PREP BASEBALL: HE'S QUITE THE CATCH DOWNIE HAS MANY SUITORS FOR HIS FUTURE.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Tyler Downie had a tough choice to make before he started high school. He knew that no matter how good he might become, a baseball career at tiny Desert Christian meant he might never get noticed.

But Downie had been at Desert Christian since he was in fourth grade, and friendships and the school's religious emphasis weighed heavily on his decision to forgo playing at a bigger school.

It's a decision he's happy he made. A senior catcher, Downie has been an impact player since his freshman year, helping lead the Knights to three consecutive Desert Mountain League titles. The exposure has come, too. He attracted the attention of Division I colleges at a scout-league tournament in Phoenix and since has signed with the University of Kansas.

Downie could face another tough choice in the coming months. If he's selected in the June draft, he'll have to consider giving up his scholarship to play pro ball.

This season, he's putting up numbers that will attract interest from pro teams. He's batting .560 (23 for 41) with three doubles, four triples, two homers and 13 RBI.

``It'd be awesome,'' he said, ``I've always wanted to play pro baseball. I can't imagine getting up and going to work every day and having to be at a baseball field. That would seriously be amazing to be able to do that. I've put a lot of work into baseball and if I were able to do that, that would just be the epitome of everything I've been working for.''

If selected, Downie would be the first Desert Christian baseball player to be drafted in the program's 12-year history.

But education is also a priority. He won't accept a professional contract unless college is part of the package. Downie plans to major in human biology in preparation for medical school. He wants to become a pediatrician.

``I love kids,'' he said, ``I've always loved kids and I've always thought that'd be a cool job.''

Downie knows juggling a pre-med workload and a Division I baseball career won't be easy, but he's got encouragement from a counselor at Kansas who's worked with athletes who have had similar ambitions.

``She told me it's been difficult, but it's been done,'' Downie said. ``But working hard is what gets you places, so I'm willing to work hard.''

Desert Christian coach Dean Spoelstra believes Downie's work ethic will help him get wherever he wants to go.

``If that's his challenge, if that's his goal, I'm sure he'll do fine,'' Spoelstra said. ``He'll be successful in whatever he does.''

The Knights (7-5, 1-0) are hoping Downie can lead them to another league title and a postseason run. But his Desert Christian teammates won't soon forget what it was like having a player of Downie's impact on their side.

``It's awesome to have him on the team,'' teammate Stephen Seston said. ``We try not to depend on him too much because if we do that and he's out for some reason, we're (in trouble).''

Downie has no regrets about staying at Desert Christian. He believes that playing for a small school made him work harder to get exposure and might have even made him a better player.

``I wouldn't want to go anywhere else,'' he said. ``Just the relationships built and the spiritual aspect have been amazing.''

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(1 -- 2 -- color) Desert Christian senior catcher Tyler Downie is hitting .560 with three doubles, four triples, two homers and 13 RBI this season, in his efforts to try and earn the Knights their fourth consecutive league title. He has a scholarship waiting for him at Kansas.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer