Ogden » South Summit's Taylor Baker often shuffled a few steps behind the pack during last week's 2A state golf tournament. While his teammates quickly navigated the 18-hole course on their way to a second place finish at the Barn Golf Course, Baker steadily limped across the green, his bag of golf clubs clinking at his side after each lopsided step.

The cold made it easier for Baker to sense the grinding pieces of metal in his right hip. As he slowly made his way to each hole, coach Troy Coil noticed his cheeks were red from exertion.

Even still, he soldiered on without any assistance and without uttering a word of complaint.

As an athlete with cerebral palsy, Baker could have used a motorized cart. Because of the metal plate and pins in place of his hip, he could have made excuses.

But that's just not Baker's style.

"I just wanted be like everyone else," he said. "I wanted to walk and play just like anyone else. I don't want to be treated any differently."

So, Baker, always armed with a green 'Respect the limp' sticker, left the cart behind, threw his bag golf clubs over his left shoulder -- the stronger of the two -- and hoofed the entire 18 holes in every tournament this year. More impressively, he's been a scoring member of the team in four of those tournaments.

"I was surprised he wouldn't take a cart at first. He's not operating on two strong legs and a strong back like everyone else," said Coil. "But I think he looks at it as a challenge or a badge of honor. He wants to show he doesn't need that stuff."

That optimism has carried him further than anyone expected. When Baker was diagnosed with cerebral palsy almost 18 years ago, doctors were unsure about his chance to lead any semblance of a normal life. Those doctors told Baker's parents that he'd never walk normally. They said he wouldn't be able to run and, most certainly, that he'd certainly never be able to play sports.

"His brain was pretty much not telling the right side of his body to grow," said Taylor's dad, Corey Baker. "I always wanted my boy to grow up playing sports. It was hard to swallow."

But for years, Baker was blissfully unaware of his disability and continued to defy the odds. At age five, not only could Baker walk -- he could run.

His left throwing arm was even better.

Soon, Baker began to compete in little-league and county league teams. As he continued to improve, he was handpicked to pitch on a 10-and-under county competition team -- and his love of baseball was born.

"As a pitcher, he can throw the ball and throw it hard and with extreme accuracy," said Corey Baker. "That's the sport that made him who he is today."

But soon, the disease began to take its toll. At age 8, Baker underwent his first series of surgeries, including a procedure to lengthen his Achilles tendon. It was then that Baker began to realize that something was amiss.

When Baker expressed an interest in playing football, his parents were faced with the heartbreaking task of telling their son that the hard-hitting game of football may be too much for his body to handle.

"I remember him crying that night," said Corey Baker. "We never wanted to have to tell him no."

Just over a year ago, Baker's unrivaled determination was dealt another blow when, in an effort to essentially 'resdesign' his right leg, doctors broke his femur bone, adjusted the angle of its alignment and placed a metal plate and screws into his hip.

The procedure left Baker bed-ridden and out of school for two months. As it turned out, the physical recovery would be the least difficult part of the process.

"It was really tough on him," said Corey Baker. "That surgery was the biggest struggle he's faced so far -- not only physically, but mentally."

Even then, he never let his disease determine his fate -- and neither would his parents.

"We pushed him hard sometimes -- maybe too hard," said Corey Baker. "But we just wanted him to be able to do the things he wanted to do."

Now, the Bakers are keeping their fingers crossed that any upcoming surgeries, including a possible second procedure to lengthen the Achilles tendon, will be his last.

After all, Baker has some big plans for the future.

Following high school, Baker hopes to continue to play baseball and golf, at least recreationally. But more importantly, Baker hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy to help others overcome similar physical disabilities.

In that way, he will have the opportunity to overcome the disease yet again.

"The willpower he had to want to do these things was just incredible. There aren't a lot of kids wouldn't let it get the best of them," said Corey Baker. "But that's just Taylor. His disability has really motivated him and driven him. You're not going to slow him down. He doesn't want to be stopped."

"He's been an inspiration to so many people, including us," said Taylor's mom, Krista Baker. "As a mom, to see him accomplish all that he has, I couldn't be more proud."