Weeks into the 2007 Oak Park High baseball season, Dustin Geyer knew that he had a career decision to make.

As much as being a third baseman appealed to him, every inning and workout Geyer spent in the infield was taking away from a truer calling.

Spring afternoons should be devoted to hours in the weight room to gaining muscle mass for the football season.

Being a lineman was as honorable position as Geyer could imagine.

"Football is where I wanted to be," said Geyer, who was an outfielder on Agoura's 2002 Bronco World Series championship baseball team.

"I wanted to be in the weight room and get stronger in all areas."

Geyer and linebacker Sean Westgate are All-CIF Northwest Division returning starters for an Oak Park program that has reached three section championship finals over the last four years.

Ever since Geyer was introduced to youth football as a sixth-grader, he has been a lineman.

"I knew at first that it wasn't glorious," said the right guard. "People look at linemen as not getting the attention. But the running backs know that you are doing the work.

"Every time that we make the block to lead for a score, that is a memorable moment."

Longtime Oak Park coach Dick Billingsley calls Geyer "the best pulling lineman that we have ever had.

"He's a great drive blocker and a tremendous pass protector. Any time that he has to pull, he is a force. He didn't give up a sack all of last year. He's done really well against guys who are bigger than him."

Geyer's ability to quickly analyze the opponent's gameplan serves him well on the defensive side.

"He has great instincts as a defensive lineman," said Billingsley. "He's very disciplined and reads very well."

As dedicated as Geyer has been his first three seasons at Oak Park, he drove himself to become an even better player as a senior.

Geyer made a dramatic gain in the weight room, increasing his personal best in the bench press from 250 to 340 pounds.

Bulk alone hasn't made Geyer proficient at his craft.

"It's about knowing what your guy does," said Geyer, "and knowing their tendencies.

"Football comes easily for me. Instead of having to think about something, I learn real fast."

Between offensive series, Geyer and fellow linemen will discuss what is happening in the trenches with their line coach.

"We'll tell him what is working and what is not," said Geyer.

Geyer's best asset as a lineman is his balance and footwork.

He owes that, in part, to his baseball background.

"Baseball allowed me to know how quick on my feet that I could be," said Geyer.

Geyer was an outfielder on Agoura's Bronco Division championship team.

"I wasn't that great of a hitter, but I could play some defense," Geyer recalled.

By the time he started playing high school baseball, he had moved to third base.

"You have to be quick on your feet to play third base," Geyer said.