I remember the boy when he first threw a ball to me when he was still waddling around in his diaper. I remember playing catch over a chain link fence when he was in kindergarten. I remember when he started pitching in little league and the dents in the steel building behind home plate. I remember when he was the smallest kid on his all-star team, and pitching faster than anyone in the county. I remember the scouts lined up to see him for the first time. I remember the TJ surgery and the long come back. I remember watching him as “the big lefty” confidently closing out games and shutting downsome of the best hitters in college baseball. I remember watching him fight thru pain and not resorting to pain killers. I will always remember the man saying goodbye to a sport he had given everything to.
There were a lot of compliments along the way. My favorite was the last one, from one of his coaches in his last bullpen, “I have never seen anyone throw 90 miles per hour with a blown-up shoulder”. It was 91, and his trademark cutter, but that summed it up.
Thanks to Nevada Baseball. Especially for last Saturday when after the final scrimmage they let a pitcher come out and face 3 hitters. The teammates cheering each pitch. The players and coaches coming out to the mound. The hugs and the tears. I am, and always will be, proud of my son.
