Founders Park Becomes Field of Dreams for Local Youngster
South Carolina’s Founders Park became a Field of Dreams for a local youngster this weekend. 12-year-old Gabriel Lyon, who lives with autism, is a big Gamecock baseball fan from Lexington, S.C., and he was given opportunity to live his dream of being a part of the team thanks to the efforts coordinated by national nonprofit Dream On 3 and the University of South Carolina Collegiate Dream Team (CDT) — a student-led group on campus supported by national CDT sponsor Volvo Construction Equipment.
“He loves baseball, and he loves the Gamecocks,” said Gabriel’s mother, Shannon Lyon. “Baseball is his happy place. His dream is to be a professional baseball player. We’ve taken him to games before, and he knows all the players. He recognizes the pitches. He plays baseball in the rec league. He’s a lefty, so he’s first baseman and a pitcher. He plays very well!
“We’ve worked very hard to get him to where he is able to go to a mainstream school.”
“We work with colleges throughout the U.S.,” said Mandie Condie director of Program and Donor Engagement for Dream On 3. “We have students and student-athletes on campuses who help plan this type of weekend. We have a group of swim and dive and women’s soccer athletes who work with us. We grant sports dreams to kids with life altering conditions. People wouldn’t know all that Gabriel goes through, but he always wants to be part of a team. Baseball is his thing! For him to be able to be out there is so special for him.”
“This will be a weekend he will never forget for his entire life.”
Before Friday’s series opener against Kentucky, Gabriel was picked up in a stretch limo from Meadow Glen Middle School in Lexington, where his classmates cheered him on as he headed to campus for the game. He also had the chance to meet his favorite former player, as South Carolina alumnus Evan Stone, who was an outfielder for the Gamecocks from 2022 through 2025, met with Gabriel at Founders Park.
“I was pretty fired up when I heard about it,” Stone said. “It’s really cool when you can have an impact on a kid or anyone’s life. It reminded me of when I was a kid, and I would come to games just hoping to get Jackie Bradley, Jr. or any of the guys to sign my hat or give me a ball and how much that meant to me. I’m glad I got a chance to return the favor!”
On Saturday, he received the full Gamecock experience which included a campus scavenger hunt, a tour of Williams-Brice Stadium, a media day-style photoshoot, and a photo with the Cocky statue. Then Garbiel took to the mound to throw out the first pitch at Founders Park before game two of the series.
Gabriel will enjoy breakfast on Sunday before saying goodbye to the team and the Collegiate Dream Team members who made it all happen.
“I’m blown away by what the Dream On 3 team has done,” Shannon Lyon said. “I was not expecting all of that. This will be a weekend he will never forget for his entire life.
“It’s a big goal for him to play in high school and to play in college.”
Gabriel is no stranger to Gamecock baseball. In addition to attending games with his family, he has also previously attended South Carolina’s summer baseball camp and intends to return this summer.
