LAWRENCE HIGH SENIOR DANIEL PARKER will be the first hitter to step in the box Friday for the Lions at the Class 6A state tournament in Wichita. The shortstop has been invited to play at Creighton University next year.

LAWRENCE HIGH SENIOR SHORTSTOP DANIEL PARKER watches a seventh-inning homer fly over the wall during a victory against Free State. Parker and the Lions will open Class 6A state tournament play Friday against Olathe East.

A warning to the men in gray keeping order during the Class 6A state baseball tournament: Call a strike on Lawrence High leadoff hitter Daniel Parker and expect a demonstrative protest.

“He firmly believes that his understanding of the strike zone is better than the umpire,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “He’s a confident kid.”

The senior’s self-assuredness has rubbed off on the rest of the Lions, and that attitude helps account for the team’s propensity for late-run rallies, including a 14-7 win against Omaha Creighton (Neb.) Preparatory School after falling behind by six runs in the fifth inning.

“He’s really cocky,” said Tony Williams, who has played baseball with Parker for seven years. “He’s not really afraid of anyone. He’ll say anything to anyone.”

Parker not only has appropriate demeanor for a leadoff hitter, but also the requisite batting skills. With quick hands and rapid bat speed, Parker accomplishes the No. 1 hitter’s primary goal of reaching base.

“He sets the tone,” sophomore Clint Pinnick said. “He’ll jump on that fastball, hit it really hard and send that team a message that, ‘We’re not messing around.'”

And when Parker does not make it to first, he at least extends the pitch count, allowing the rest of the LHS lineup to check out the thrower’s arsenal.

His skills in the field, though, exceed his offensive abilities. Stoll called his senior “the best defensive shortstop in the state.” After occupying third base last year while a back injury sidelined first baseman Nick DeBiasse and forced third baseman John Novotny to slide to first, he has returned to his natural position this season. Parker has committed two errors at shortstop, a statistic that becomes more impressive when one considers his all-out, gambling style.

He patrolled the area between second and third base well before an eighth-grade growth spurt boosted him to his current 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame. And despite his lanky build that makes him resemble an outfielder more than a shortstop, Parker always had the requisite range.

Stoll, though, has reinforced the need to stay low through repeated drills.

“He does a good job of that,” Stoll said. “The 6-3 guys have to play like they’re 5-7.”

The competitive fire of the spindly infielder also has stoked the Lions. In the midst of an 8-2 drubbing against Free State High this year and with the infield playing shallow, Parker dove to knock down a line drive during the fifth inning, saving another run from scoring.

“He completely laid out,” Stoll said. “That’s caring about your teammates and playing hard even when you’re getting hammered.”

Parker has a singular devotion to the game. He participated in soccer and basketball before giving up both up during the ninth grade to concentrate on baseball, which he has played competitively since he was 6 years old. At that age he played on a team for 7- and 8-year-olds because the coach needed an extra body. That team, by the way, won the championship.

Having matured since those days of coach-pitch ball, Parker will enroll at Creighton University next year and play outfield, third base or shortstop. He selected the school because he liked the coaches, the players and the 6,700-student population.

“Once I went on a visit, and they told me I had a spot on the team, I knew it was the place I wanted to go,” Parker said. “I kind of fell in love with it right there.”

Asked what career he wants to pursue after Creighton University, a straight-faced Parker said professional baseball. Stoll, who serves as a part-time scout for the Milwaukee Brewers, said that dream remains a strong possibility.

“Creighton has a hidden jewel,” he said. “I really firmly believe he’ll get paid to play one of these days. He’s going to get signed. By the time he’s done with Creighton, some scout’s going to fall in love with him.”

Parker, though, has plenty of work to do before joining the collegiate or professional ranks, including chasing a championship during his first experience at state this weekend.

“I can’t even express how excited how I am,” Parker said.