Senior shortstop Matt Byer is part of a recent shift in Bryan's batting order.

The Vikings are happy to keep writing his name anywhere on the lineup card after he fractured vertebrae in an auto accident with former Viking David Contreras this fall.

"We were crossing the highway and [another driver] just hit the car," Byer said. "It was accidental, but we flipped three or four times, and I broke two bones in my lower back."

That led to three months of rehabilitation work for Byer.

"He didn't go through offseason until about December," Bryan head coach David Powers said. "We didn't even know if we were going to have him. To be honest, I would have to tell him to get out of the [batting] cage, because he wasn't released yet. With that kind of injury, you're terrified if something happens. We had to get him cleared."

Byer will get the start at shortstop in this season's first half of the Crosstown Showdown at 7:30 p.m. Friday at A&M Consolidated's Tiger Field.

Both teams are 1-0 in District 12-5A play after winning Wednesday. Bryan beat Killeen Shoemaker 12-2, giving Viking coaches time to scout Consol's 8-2 win at Temple. Kevin Bishop was 3 for 3 at the plate and earned the victory on the mound.

Byer's side of the car was hit in the wreck, and he says he still uses a heating pad on his back to keep it loose some nights. But he cut his recovery time in half after working through three therapy sessions a week.

"I went to therapy. I'm recovered, and I'm back now," Byer said. "I was expected to be out six months, but I'm young and I recovered quickly."

Powers says he's amazed how quickly Byer has returned to full strength.

"The shocking thing is that he didn't lose anything athletically," Powers said. "He had a great summer last year. He had worked on his athleticism and got a lot faster, which disappointed us that much more when he had the setback with the automobile accident. But, man, he bounced back. It was like nothing ever happened."

Bryan (10-6-1) recently shuffled it batting order to take advantage of Byer's RBI potential, moving speedy Krey Bratsen into the No. 2 spot and Byer from Nos. 2 to 3. It gives Bryan a solid 1-2 punch with Bratsen leading Bryan at .417 and Byer second on the team at .409. Byer also is a sizzling .471 with runners in scoring position.

"[Byer] has given us a batter behind Krey to protect him," Powers said. "Matt's got big-time hits against really good pitching. He's shown some power and will continue to do so."

Byer has five doubles and a triple with eight RBIs.

But defense first earned him a starting position at shortstop last year, when he was named the Vikings' Newcomer of the Year.

"He's a coach on the field," Powers said. "He's got a real knack. He'll look over at first and say 'runner' and sure enough, they'll take off."

It's nothing magical, Byer says. Experience helps you predict the future.

"You just think ahead, think of the situation as it is about to happen," Byer said. "You imagine the play and what you're going to do before it happens. You have a lead, maybe an extra step. You think about the future."

Byer was part of the Bryan West team that advanced to the Senior League national tournament in Maine two summers ago. He appreciates success, but he says the level of play will dictate how much of it his Vikings will have. He contemplates a district championship, even playing at state, but says he is more concerned with how he and his team play. He knows they need to be at their best against Consol (12-3).

"I like to go out and have fun playing baseball," Byer said. "It's always good to go into the Crosstown Showdown. It's more exciting. We try to attack and be aggressive at the plate, and our defense wins ball games. We always have fun playing and competing with them."