A little over a year ago I was asking prayers for my Grandson.
He was on the ondeck batting circle and hit by batted ball
directly in the eye. Several bones broken facing surgery sports
a thing of the past. We all have kids like Brent. To not play
sports was worse than the pain of the injury. Needing Doctor's
permission he was allowed to again play baseball. He played the
game well. Articles written in local paper of his remarkable
recovery. It took courage to stand in against the first ball thrown
at him. That he did well he hit .417. Basically a hit nearly
every other at batt. Third in hitting and second in two base hits
and because he was handled carefully with half the at bats of other
players. In his own words, "I knew I was back in the Alaska tournament.
the pitcher threw ninety miles and hour and I hit a double off him."
Football was another thing. It was very emotional for Brent when with
his eye still swollen from surgery he dropped by practice last year
to watch his team practice. The coaches did a wonderful thing. They
stopped practice and brought the team over to the side of the field
and visited with Brent. He was told he was welcomed back if he ever
had permission to play. That was last year and he was forced to sit
out the season. This year he was told he was second string safety if
he was allowed to play.
Friday was the opening game of the season. Once again a Woodinville
team playing in Alaska. Brent informed his parents not to expect him
to play. The most he would get to do was play on special teams during
kickoffs and punts. He was seen one time by me in the first half. The
surprise was with the score in Woodinvilles favor 21-7 at half. The
Palmer touchdown by an uncovered wide receiver in the endzone Brent
started the second half at safety. He played the whole second half.
On one play the announcer said a wide receiver dropped a pass. Brent
amd a second defender knocked the ball down diving. He did miss one
tackle but made up for it when a running back was heading for the endzone
and Brent made the saving tackle. He also recovered a fumble. He is back
and Woodinville won the game 42-7./dandy
Ps: Latest, because no football last year they want him to play in a JV
game. He well be starting strong safety and running back. Talk about the
full circle. In midget football he was the leading yardage and scoring
running back in the league with eight touchdowns. Because of a concussion
the made him a tight end.