LAPLACE — Lloyd Nash said he did try to run track for a while at St. Charles Catholic High School.

“That didn’t last long,” he said.

He also gave basketball a try.

“I gave it up after a while,” he said.

It’s probably a good thing.

The rising senior Comet wouldn’t have much time to fit in those sports nor much else this summer.

Nash is the starting quarterback and sometime defensive back on the football team. He also is the starting center fielder and lead off batter on the baseball team.

As he prepares for his final year of high school, Nash has spent pretty much all of his summer juggling the two sports and whatever else it is that teenage boys do.

“My day is football in the morning and baseball in the evening,” he said. “I don’t have time for much else. I do cut the grass in between when it’s getting out of hand.”

Nash says he is up at 6 a.m. for football practice or the weekly 7-on-7 competition at Comet Field.

After going home for lunch and a little nap, he’s back at school in the afternoons for baseball practice with the school-based Townsend Homes American Legion team, which has secured a spot in next week’s State Tournament.

Most people would be exhausted by that kind of schedule, but not Nash.

“I’m used to it now,” he said.

The coaches at St. Charles Catholic are used to having Nash around as well.

He’s been a starter since he was a freshman. Last season Nash was one of only two returning starters on the football team and the only returning starter on the baseball team.

“It was probably harder in baseball,” Nash said. “We had a whole bunch of new people out there.”

Still, the football team overcame its detractors to reach the Division III championship game and the baseball team reached the state semifinals.

“Last year was just a miracle team I guess you could say,” he said. “We just wanted to prove ourselves and go out like we had nothing to lose.”

Baseball head coach and assistant football coach Wayne Stein attributed much of the teams’ successes to Nash.

“He’s just a leader,” Stein said. “Even as a junior last year he kind of took on the role of leader, whether he liked it or not. Last season we’d say a lot of times, ‘Lloyd and the seniors.’ He was kind of like an honorary senior because he had so much experience. The qualities he has are rare.”

Selected as Athlete on the All-District 12-2A football team and kick returner on L’OBSERVATEUR’s All-St. John team, Nash amassed 1,785 all-purpose yards on offense.

Selected by the district’s coaches as the MVP of the All-District baseball team, Nash hit .439 with eight doubles, three triples and 23 RBIs. He also was 37-of-37 on stolen base attempts.

“He was just one of those guys that refused to have an average season last year,” Stein said. “He knew he had to do more. And sometimes it might have been too much pressure but he never let it get to him. His .438 was the best I ever had on the bases and I think he’s the best baseball player I ever coached. Everything he does, he just attacks it.”

Now is the time many high school athletes would have to pick their path and choose between the two sports.

Nash said he can’t do that.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “A lot of people ask me if I had to pick one. I don’t know at this point. That’s a tough one.”

He may not have to.

Stein said Nash has two legitimate college offers to play football and baseball, including one at Nicholls State University.

“When we played a baseball game there against Teurlings Catholic, the football coaches came and watched him,” he said.

Nash said there is one other sport he would like to try as a Comet.

“I want to play soccer, but they won’t let me,” he said.

Stein gave a stern shake of his head at that idea.

“He’s not playing soccer,” he said. “No way.”