MEMPHIS, Tenn. — From a young age, Jackson and Trenton Lyons have shared a strong brotherly bond. When they were little, their father, Jonathan, sat them down in their shared room and imparted a message that resonated deeply with both boys.
"I used to always talk to them about how your brother is the most important person in your life, you're going to have to go to battle one day together," Jonathan Lyons, father of Jackson and Trenton, recalls. "You are always going to have to support one another."
"Since we were little, I've always hated and never allowed anyone to say anything about him," Jackson said.
"My brother growing up was my go-to guy. I learned a whole lot from him, and I love him for it," added Trenton.
Over the years, the Lyons brothers followed in their dad's footsteps. Jonathan played baseball at Christian Brother High School, Memphis, and for the Boston Red Sox organization.
Jackson is a senior pitcher for Memphis, and Trenton is a freshman catcher at Ole Miss.
Both the brothers wear the number 24 out of respect for their father who wore 24 at CBHS.
The brothers trained together from a young age and often ended up wrestling.
"We went to the Memphis Baseball Academy when we were little," Jackson said with a smile. "We got to wrestling when we were in the cage and tore down the entire cage."
Jackson recalls winning all the wrestling matches, but Trenton disagrees.
"There was one time where he got really scared of me and me beating him, beating his butt," Trenton confidently said.
Both Lyons boys, like their father, attended Christian Brothers, but they never played together due to the timing.
When Jackson was a senior and Trenton was a freshman, COVID-19 prevented the season from happening. A few years later, the Lyons brothers made up for lost time at FedEx Park.
"That was by far the coolest moment I have ever had," Jackson said.
It was a special moment for both brothers but nerve-racking for their parents.
"It was awesome, but it was the most nervous I have ever been," said Kristi Lyons, mother of Jackson and Trenton.
I asked the Lyons boys many questions, but one thing remains unclear. Who was a better wiffle ball player?
"Me, only because I hit better," Trenton said
"I mean, I don't think I've ever lost to him," added Jackson. "I'm probably undefeated as is."
Both the brothers are fighting to help their teams make it to the postseason.
Memphis (22-30, 9-15) will finish out the season at home in a three game series against Wichita State this Friday.
Ole Miss (27-25, 11-16) face No. 25 Southern Miss in a midweek game this Tuesday before finishing out the season in a three-game series at LSU starting on Thursday.