Wounded Warrior

April 27,1995. Playing softball for Tag&Label (TLC) in the Anderson,SC rec league. 1995 was a rough year. I was the coach and they told me two weeks before the season that 2nd shift guys couldn't play. I had to talk a few guys into playing, guys that had no business on a softball field. It was a struggle to field a team for most of that year and I think we won only four games. This was early in the season and we had a 6:00 game. My arm was hurting me from playing in a weekend tournament, but we started with only nine guys which meant I had to play center field. I couldn't throw very well (nerve damage in elbow) and wanted to move in to 2nd base, we just didn't have the players. Top of the first and we're in the field when David shows up. I led off the bottom of the inning with one down the right field line, easy inside-the-parker. That got the team going and we started rolling. Later that inning I came up with the bases loaded. A shot off the center field fence and I've got 2 HR, 5 RBI, and we're up big. By the top of the 3rd we're up and I told Jimmy if we could hold them and score a couple, it would be over. Wasn't meant to be. I'd moved in and was playing 2nd. A guy hits a little pop fly to short right. Chad in right-center and Chris in right were two of the guys who just didn't know much about playing ball. Knowing they were playing deep, I went after the ball. Listening for the call-off, I never got it. Running flat-out, I stretched and saw the ball until was just above my glove. I had it, but then I'm landing on my back. I came up and there's the ball at Chris's feet, but he's staring at me. I still had no idea what I'd run into, but when I reached up and touched my face, I knew my game was over. It turns out that Chad had came in, but didn't know to call me off. He froze and ducked. The top of his head caught me flush on the side of mine. Jimmy told me it was like slow-motion for him, but it was an instant for me. I was headed in to get Alice to the car to take me to the hospital when they stopped me and made me lay down. Worried about my neck. I got my one and hopefully only ride in an ambulance then. They put me on the stretcher and loaded me up right there in short right field. Nothing but a broken cheekbone and eye-socket, I missed the next three games before I could run well enough to play. I bought me a helmet with a facemask. Tyler and Jessica helped me decorate it by putting stickers on it. Loved the Roadrunner one, but playing outfield in that thing wasn't easy. First one hit my way I had trouble picking up after checking for the fence. I had to use a black marker to darken out a rivet that kept catching my eyes. I missed a few weekends before i was comfortable enough to play, but by that time I was taking chances by taking it off more than I should have. The Dr had told me that if that eye took another lick, I'd probably lose it, but this was softball. Important stuff. I do have an indestructible side. Luckily, I never got hit again and now, the occasional headaches are the worst side-effect. Lost some hand-eye coordination and I don't think my vision lines up the same anymore, but I'm experienced at not being able to see straight. I dedicate this page to Sara, a beautiful teenager trying to get well enough to get back to her own game after injuries much worse than this one. May God grant her the strength to make it.