A local 12-year-old, Gabriel Lyon, who lives with autism, was given the opportunity to join the South Carolina Gamecocks men’s baseball team for a weekend at Founders Park, according to an April 25 announcement. The event was coordinated by national nonprofit Dream On 3 and the University of South Carolina Collegiate Dream Team, a student-led group supported by Volvo Construction Equipment.
The story highlights efforts to grant sports dreams to children facing life-altering conditions. Gabriel is a dedicated Gamecock fan from Lexington, South Carolina. His mother, Shannon Lyon, said: “He loves baseball, and he loves the Gamecocks. 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.”
Mandie Condie, director of Program and Donor Engagement for Dream On 3 said: “We work with colleges throughout the U.S.. 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.”
Gabriel’s experience began when he was picked up in a stretch limo from Meadow Glen Middle School while classmates cheered him on as he headed toward campus for Friday’s game against Kentucky. At Founders Park, Gabriel met his favorite former player Evan Stone—an alumnus outfielder for South Carolina from 2022 through 2025—who said: “I was pretty fired up when I heard about it… It reminded me of when I was a kid… I’m glad I got a chance to return the favor!”
On Saturday Gabriel participated in activities including a campus scavenger hunt and throwing out the first pitch before game two against Kentucky at Founders Park.
Reflecting on her son’s experience over the weekend Shannon Lyon said: “I’m blown away by what the Dream On 3 team has done… This will be a weekend he will never forget for his entire life.” She added that playing high school or college baseball remains one of Gabriel’s biggest goals.
