DUNLAP — For most high school athletes, spring break means a chance to relax and recharge. But for Concord senior Derek Gomez, it meant doubling down on his commitment to two sports—sometimes literally watching one while competing in the other.
Last Wednesday, Gomez was at Northridge High School with the Concord boys track team, throwing the shot put. At the same time, his baseball teammates were taking the field at Goshen. So Gomez did what any dedicated two-sport athlete would do: he pulled out his phone.
"At the track meet I was watching the baseball game on my phone," Gomez said. "I believed they could get it done and win the game and I'm glad they were able to do that (4-0 win). Joey (Hauger) pitched a great game."
Juggling baseball and track in the same spring season isn't for the faint of heart—especially when you're also a football standout in the fall. But Gomez was determined to make it work, even after a previous attempt fell short.
"Last year I tried to do both sports," he said. "I thought it would be fun to do. But I was denied from doing baseball because I asked too late to join the team."
As a freshman and sophomore, Gomez focused solely on baseball. He joined the track team as a junior, and this year, he's doing both—thanks to a carefully coordinated plan between baseball coach Greg Hughes and track coach CJ Shafer.
"On practice days when baseball doesn't have a game, he comes to track practice first for about an hour, then he heads over to baseball," Shafer explained. "There is about a half-hour overlap where he misses the beginning of baseball practice and the end of track practice."
The arrangement means Gomez misses a few baseball games for track meets, but he's grateful for the compromise. "I'm glad they were able to figure that out," he said.
Gomez has been playing baseball since T-ball in elementary school. Track came later, in eighth grade, and then again as a junior—driven largely by the camaraderie he shares with his football teammates who also run track. "I've known those guys my whole life and that's why I like track," he said.
With a packed schedule, Gomez doesn't rely on reminders or a calendar. "I kind of memorized it all," he said. "There aren't that many track meets and there are baseball games almost every day, so I'm always ready to play."
And when it comes to the postseason, the stars have aligned: Concord's baseball team drew a first-round bye in the sectional, meaning their first game isn't until May 30. That gives Gomez a clear path to compete at the track state meet—if he qualifies—without a conflict.
No spring break? No problem. For Derek Gomez, the only break he needs is between events.