HS BASE: Two-sport standout Bernards is keeping it that way

A top football and baseball player at West Ranch, Jake Bernards signed a San Diego State football scholarship as a quarterback.

But instead of bailing on his baseball teammates once the football scholarship was finalized as other quarterbacks have done through the years -- Hart's Matt Moore and Tyler Lyon come to mind -- Bernards said there was no way he could turn his back.

"Yeah, a lot of guys have quit (baseball) once they get a football scholarship, but I just couldn't because I've been committed to the baseball team for so long that it just wouldn't feel right," Bernards said. "I've grown up with all these guys. I would never leave them hanging."

Bernards is off to a good start in baseball. He hit his third home run of the season Thursday -- a line shot over the right-field fence -- in an 8-0 victory over visiting Hart.