By Don Ketchum

Athletes at Lakeside Blue Ridge High can do more than play football.

Take Nick Johnson, for instance.

Oh, he played for the Yellowjackets’ perennial powerhouse football team. He was the quarterback. He also was a standout on the basketball team.

But it is baseball that it his favorite and sport for which he perhaps is best-suited for life beyond high school.

The four-year starter is the team’s shortstop and one of its pitchers. Blue Ridge won six of its first seven games, and the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Johnson had 13 hits in his first 20 at-bats, including five doubles, two triples, two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Johnson and catcher Nick Williams are two of five seniors on the team and the two primary leaders. They will be heading off to play at Mesa Community College next season.

“They are great leaders,’’ said Blue Ridge coach Joe Merklin.

Merklin has been coaching nearly 30 years, and said Johnson is one of the best players he has coached.

“The way he plays the game . . . he always seems to have a smile on his face. He plays the game with the enthusiasm of a little kid,’’ Merklin said. “He helps the younger kids, like kids on the JV.’’

Johnson also is a good student, carrying about a 3.5 grade-point average, according to his coach. Math is his favorite subject.

Johnson enjoys the game he has been playing since his Little League days. He also plays a key role on the pitching staff that is led by left-hander Sebastian Kessay.

He likens playing shortstop to playing quarterback in terms of taking charge of a game.

“You’re directing some of the players, encouraging them, trying to make sure they are ready,’’ he said. “At shortstop, you have a lot of the balls hit to you and you get a chance to make plays.’’

As much as Johnson loves playing defense, he probably like hitting even more. He gets his share of swings during practice, but stays afterward and continues to hit in the cages as the sky turns to dusk and the cool mountain air becomes chilly.

He admits to being a pull hitter but is trying to go with the pitch to right field more, “because I’ll need to have to be able to do that when I play at Mesa.’’

Johnson watches as much baseball as he can to pick up the nuances of the game, be it college or pro.

Blue Ridge finished 25-5 last year, according to Merklin, and fell to Tucson Empire in the quarterfinals. Empire went on to the Class 3A championship game, where it was defeated by Chino Valley.

Merklin expects another close race. Blue Ridge should be a factor, along with Chino Valley, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, Fountain Hills and Safford.

“Our team is a little smaller than it has been,’’ Johnson said. “We are young, too, but we are capable of having a good season if the young guys step it up. I always try to help them, encourage them every day.’’