Sadly, it just gets worse. The drive of Nick's car was a Cal-State Fullerton cheerleader. The other deceased passenger was a law student and friend of Jon Wilhite, the injured passenger and former CSF player.
There are no words to convey my profound sadness.
May Our Lord comfort his family and give them strength.
May Our Lord comfort his family and give them strength.
I want to thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and most importantly your prayers.
Nick was my step-son. I state that just to make the record correct. I was blessed that his father allowed me to help raise Nick. We, along with his mother, were so proud of Nick as a baseball player, but even more proud of the man Nick had grown to be.
The outpouring of sympathy has been unbelievable. Every kind word, thought and prayer has reached Jimmy, Janet, his brother Henry and myself.
We pray for all the loved ones of all the victims of the unspeakable tragedy.
Please hold a special thought and unending prayers for the Wilhite family. I know that my pain will be eased when John returns home to his loved ones.
I again thank you so very much and I return to your kind thoughts and words often when my heart grows weary and tired. Give each and every one of your beautiful children an extra long hug from all of us.
With sincerest gratitude and humility
Duane Gigeous aka deldad
Nick was my step-son. I state that just to make the record correct. I was blessed that his father allowed me to help raise Nick. We, along with his mother, were so proud of Nick as a baseball player, but even more proud of the man Nick had grown to be.
The outpouring of sympathy has been unbelievable. Every kind word, thought and prayer has reached Jimmy, Janet, his brother Henry and myself.
We pray for all the loved ones of all the victims of the unspeakable tragedy.
Please hold a special thought and unending prayers for the Wilhite family. I know that my pain will be eased when John returns home to his loved ones.
I again thank you so very much and I return to your kind thoughts and words often when my heart grows weary and tired. Give each and every one of your beautiful children an extra long hug from all of us.
With sincerest gratitude and humility
Duane Gigeous aka deldad
.
Will do Duane...God bless you.
.
Will do Duane...God bless you.
.
Duane,
I was going to mention that, but didn't feel it was my place. You are a very special person just like Nick. Our prayers are with you and your entire family. There were 4,000 eyes full of tears at the Kernels stadium last night. You are a better man than me.
I was going to mention that, but didn't feel it was my place. You are a very special person just like Nick. Our prayers are with you and your entire family. There were 4,000 eyes full of tears at the Kernels stadium last night. You are a better man than me.
John Wilhite and Henry Pearson both played baseball at, and graduated from, Mira Costa HS, a school in my son's baseball league. We are just getting ready to start league play. No doubt Mira Costa's season will be impacted by this sadness. Deldad, I apolgize for the misstatement that he was your son, but I realize your pain is no less. I am so very sad for your family. I simply cannot fathom how one survives this pain. Please know that we are all praying for you now in your time of need.
Deldad, I have waivered for a couple of hours how to respond to your post or even if I should. What you said was so eloquent that it does not bear further comment. But, my heart says to reach out and let you know how sorry we are. How great your step-son was. How much we enjoyed watching him and the future promise of him on Wed. night. What a great parenting job the three of you did.
We are just so sorry, Deldad. God Bless you.
We are just so sorry, Deldad. God Bless you.
Duane,
Thank you for your gracious post. So many people are grieving with you and praying for you and the rest of Nick's family. God bless you and comfort you.
I'm praying also for the families of Nick's two friends who lost their lives, and for Jon Wilhite's healing and recovery. And at your suggestion, I will definitely give my kids an extra long hug from me and from your family.
You and Nick remain in our thoughts and prayers constantly.
Julie
Thank you for your gracious post. So many people are grieving with you and praying for you and the rest of Nick's family. God bless you and comfort you.
I'm praying also for the families of Nick's two friends who lost their lives, and for Jon Wilhite's healing and recovery. And at your suggestion, I will definitely give my kids an extra long hug from me and from your family.
You and Nick remain in our thoughts and prayers constantly.
Julie
RIP Nick, and best wishes to deldad. At least Nick was able to live his dream to the fullest before he passed.
Deldad/Duane,
You are indeed a very gracious man.
Your whole family is in my thoughts and prayers nearly every minute of the day. Our whole family is praying for all of you and the other families involved in this tragedy.
I loved watching Nick pitch...including Wednesday night. We all miss him and we all grieve for all of you.
Peace, my friend.
Tom
You are indeed a very gracious man.
Your whole family is in my thoughts and prayers nearly every minute of the day. Our whole family is praying for all of you and the other families involved in this tragedy.
I loved watching Nick pitch...including Wednesday night. We all miss him and we all grieve for all of you.
Peace, my friend.
Tom
My thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to deldad and family.
Dear Deldad/Duane-
Thank you so much for your post. As so many here have said, it is so impossible to turn our hurting hearts into words. I think most of us on this site have sons with the same dream that Nick had; with the same hopes and dreams you and your family helped him follow and attain. This is something we strive to do, love and support our kids to follow their dreams. We have that connection. This could have happened to any of us, at anytime.
We mourn and grieve for you and all the families and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
I hope in some way the way, the fact that Nick touched so many people through baseball alone, brings some comfort to you and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers, and I know the hsbbweb family will contiue to pray for Nick, Courtney, Henry and for Jon and his complete recovery.
God Bless.
Thank you so much for your post. As so many here have said, it is so impossible to turn our hurting hearts into words. I think most of us on this site have sons with the same dream that Nick had; with the same hopes and dreams you and your family helped him follow and attain. This is something we strive to do, love and support our kids to follow their dreams. We have that connection. This could have happened to any of us, at anytime.
We mourn and grieve for you and all the families and friends of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
I hope in some way the way, the fact that Nick touched so many people through baseball alone, brings some comfort to you and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers, and I know the hsbbweb family will contiue to pray for Nick, Courtney, Henry and for Jon and his complete recovery.
God Bless.
By now there are likely hundreds of personal stories circulating about Nick Adenhart, before tragedy took his life. I wanted to post one of these here, something that comes from the perspective of two of his former teammates. We all know how good Nick was on the field, but off the field he was also highly admired, and obviously well-liked.
This is from Randy Harrison at the ABQ Journal. The Journal requires a subscription (I'm a subscriber), but that little flaming hoop of fire makes sharing next to impossible. So, I'm posting both the link and the entire text.
Just one more comment... While I'm usually a big fan of clever headlines, there's always a time and a place. This one, along with countless others that had to include the phrase "Hit and Run" are in poor taste and should never get past the editors desk. JMHO.
Two 'Topes Hit Hard by Angel Pitcher's Death
The reminders of Nick Adenhart will thump away on Dee Brown’s iPod. The 22-year-old kid had a sophisticated taste in hip-hop that the old-school Brown appreciated so much, “I stole all my music from him.”
Henry Bonilla can’t get erase the image of Adenhart dancing in the clubhouse — a goofy, unpretentious flailing that Bonilla said “looked like Gumby.”
The tragic death of the 22-year-old Los Angeles Angels pitcher — only hours after his promising six shutout innings against Oakland on Wednesday night — has scarred a baseball season that is just beginning.
It also has scarred the hearts of Adenhart’s past and present teammates. They include Brown and Bonilla — two Albuquerque Isotopes who were teammates with Adenhart last year in Salt Lake. Giancarlo Alvarado, Albuquerque’s starting pitcher Friday night in a 9-5 home loss to Omaha, also was with Salt Lake last year.
“In the offseason it still would have been a major tragedy,” said Brown, a 31-year-old outfielder in his 14th season of pro ball. “But the timing of it — the beginning of the season, his first great start, and to be taken just like that, two or three hours later … it’s just sad, man.”
Adenhart died early Thursday in Fullerton, Calif., from injuries he suffered while riding in a vehicle that was hit by a minivan driven by a drunk driver, police said.
Both the Angels and the Salt Lake Bees, their Triple-A affiliate, postponed their games on Thursday night before returning to action on Friday. The Bees were playing their Pacific Coast League opener.
Expect it to be incomprehensibly hard on both teams for some time. In the Bees’ case, “I know four or five guys who are just going to be destroyed,” Brown said.
Bonilla, a 30-year-old right-hander, also knows a couple of the Bees who are inconsolable. But, he added, if the Angels go through with leaving Adenhart’s locker in Anaheim as is, “That’ll be tough. You walk in and it’ll remind you. Every day.”
Both Bonilla and Brown recall Adenhart as having a live arm and a mental makeup beyond his years. He had major leagues written all over him, and Adenhart’s effectiveness in his final game didn’t surprise at all.
But that wasn’t what they talked about Friday.
Instead, it was how Adenhart could expertly and comically impersonate the lisping speech of the Bees’ trainer. Sometimes at the right moment on bus trips, he’d grab the intercom microphone and break his teammates up.
It was his East Coast-oriented taste in hip-hop that bridged the age gap between Adenhart, a Maryland native, and New Yorker Brown. “People like DJ Premier — only a good hip-hop person would know certain things that he would have,” said Brown. With Adenhart’s allegiance for the Washington Redskins and Brown being a Giants fan, football talk dominated road trips.
Both found out early Thursday from reports on ESPN, which set into motion a flurry of phone calls, texts and e-mails. The horrible news was true.
Wrapping their hearts and minds around it in the coming days won’t be easy. As they enter their 30s, the two have talked about all the places they have been, the things they have seen since they were 22 that Adenhart won’t experience.
Brown said he has prayed a lot in the last day or so. But even to a man of faith, it’s hard to fathom.
“I’m not that religious,” said Bonilla, “but my Dad is. He said that God watches over everything, but sometimes he blinks.”
Or as Brown put it, “The Lord took him last night. But at least in his mind and his heart, he had possibly the best night of his life — pitching the best game of his life and feeling like he belonged up there.”
This is from Randy Harrison at the ABQ Journal. The Journal requires a subscription (I'm a subscriber), but that little flaming hoop of fire makes sharing next to impossible. So, I'm posting both the link and the entire text.
Just one more comment... While I'm usually a big fan of clever headlines, there's always a time and a place. This one, along with countless others that had to include the phrase "Hit and Run" are in poor taste and should never get past the editors desk. JMHO.
Two 'Topes Hit Hard by Angel Pitcher's Death
The reminders of Nick Adenhart will thump away on Dee Brown’s iPod. The 22-year-old kid had a sophisticated taste in hip-hop that the old-school Brown appreciated so much, “I stole all my music from him.”
Henry Bonilla can’t get erase the image of Adenhart dancing in the clubhouse — a goofy, unpretentious flailing that Bonilla said “looked like Gumby.”
The tragic death of the 22-year-old Los Angeles Angels pitcher — only hours after his promising six shutout innings against Oakland on Wednesday night — has scarred a baseball season that is just beginning.
It also has scarred the hearts of Adenhart’s past and present teammates. They include Brown and Bonilla — two Albuquerque Isotopes who were teammates with Adenhart last year in Salt Lake. Giancarlo Alvarado, Albuquerque’s starting pitcher Friday night in a 9-5 home loss to Omaha, also was with Salt Lake last year.
“In the offseason it still would have been a major tragedy,” said Brown, a 31-year-old outfielder in his 14th season of pro ball. “But the timing of it — the beginning of the season, his first great start, and to be taken just like that, two or three hours later … it’s just sad, man.”
Adenhart died early Thursday in Fullerton, Calif., from injuries he suffered while riding in a vehicle that was hit by a minivan driven by a drunk driver, police said.
Both the Angels and the Salt Lake Bees, their Triple-A affiliate, postponed their games on Thursday night before returning to action on Friday. The Bees were playing their Pacific Coast League opener.
Expect it to be incomprehensibly hard on both teams for some time. In the Bees’ case, “I know four or five guys who are just going to be destroyed,” Brown said.
Bonilla, a 30-year-old right-hander, also knows a couple of the Bees who are inconsolable. But, he added, if the Angels go through with leaving Adenhart’s locker in Anaheim as is, “That’ll be tough. You walk in and it’ll remind you. Every day.”
Both Bonilla and Brown recall Adenhart as having a live arm and a mental makeup beyond his years. He had major leagues written all over him, and Adenhart’s effectiveness in his final game didn’t surprise at all.
But that wasn’t what they talked about Friday.
Instead, it was how Adenhart could expertly and comically impersonate the lisping speech of the Bees’ trainer. Sometimes at the right moment on bus trips, he’d grab the intercom microphone and break his teammates up.
It was his East Coast-oriented taste in hip-hop that bridged the age gap between Adenhart, a Maryland native, and New Yorker Brown. “People like DJ Premier — only a good hip-hop person would know certain things that he would have,” said Brown. With Adenhart’s allegiance for the Washington Redskins and Brown being a Giants fan, football talk dominated road trips.
Both found out early Thursday from reports on ESPN, which set into motion a flurry of phone calls, texts and e-mails. The horrible news was true.
Wrapping their hearts and minds around it in the coming days won’t be easy. As they enter their 30s, the two have talked about all the places they have been, the things they have seen since they were 22 that Adenhart won’t experience.
Brown said he has prayed a lot in the last day or so. But even to a man of faith, it’s hard to fathom.
“I’m not that religious,” said Bonilla, “but my Dad is. He said that God watches over everything, but sometimes he blinks.”
Or as Brown put it, “The Lord took him last night. But at least in his mind and his heart, he had possibly the best night of his life — pitching the best game of his life and feeling like he belonged up there.”
I have written Nick's initials and number inside my cap. I will think of Nick every time my son and I take the field this summer.
Nick was involved with so many, the interview with his USA coach hit home about just how many knew him personally on a day to day basis.
Duane, Nick lived an enviable full and loved life, and made those around him better for it. Like ripples in a pond, his influence will go on and on. His mother, you, his brother, and his father were responsible for the greatest portion of that life.
My heart aches for each of you, and for everyone's loss. Bless you all.
My heart aches for each of you, and for everyone's loss. Bless you all.
Deldad I hurt for you and the entire family , his friends and everyone that knew Nick. This has been on my mind constantly since I heard about it. I will continue to pray for everyone touched by this.
Isn't it fabulous when parents who divorce can agree to work together to raise their children properly?
And step parents who take a positive role in their spouse's child are special people too!
And step parents who take a positive role in their spouse's child are special people too!
Larry
And I can tell you that it ain't easy
And I can tell you that it ain't easy
I am very sorry for your loss deldad, You and You're family will be in my prayers.
DelDad - My husband and I are sending prayers your way! God will give you all the strength you need to get through each day. This is just an unbelieveable tragedy.
I can not stop thinking about this tragic loss.
Nick has had a positive impact on so many people.
Deldad - all of you continue to be in our families prayers.
Nick has had a positive impact on so many people.
Deldad - all of you continue to be in our families prayers.
Deldad,
Words just seem so inadequate right now.I just wanted to let you know how much joy I had in watching Nick pitch,as an angels fan especially.I recall one night when the Arkansas Travelers were playing the Tulsa Drillers,I saw Nick pitch. Most of the guys in the stadium went over the the Tulsa dugout after the game,but I went over to the visitors dugout,to see the future angels.Your step son was kind enough to sign an autograph,and I told him "Good job tonight" to which he responded with a smile "Thanks bud"
That moment will be with me forever now.
Words just seem so inadequate right now.I just wanted to let you know how much joy I had in watching Nick pitch,as an angels fan especially.I recall one night when the Arkansas Travelers were playing the Tulsa Drillers,I saw Nick pitch. Most of the guys in the stadium went over the the Tulsa dugout after the game,but I went over to the visitors dugout,to see the future angels.Your step son was kind enough to sign an autograph,and I told him "Good job tonight" to which he responded with a smile "Thanks bud"
That moment will be with me forever now.
Prayers to his family.
I did not know Nick or any of the Adenhart family, but knew of him and after playing for the same Oriolelanders team this past fall that he had played for he became an idol in the way we were all following in his footsteps and how he lived the dream of going on to the big leagues. After this I've only learned more good about Nick and the type of person he was, and will continue to idolize him in all my future seasons and all that I do. I am truly sorry and my deepest sympathies go out to the Adenhart family.
I am still shocked how things can change so quickly. My prayers go out to those who were involved in this tragedy. 
Just now reading and making the connections - more prayers for comfort and peace!
Duane, I am so sorry for the loss your close-knit family has suffered. We all feel it. I hope our sympathy can alleviate some of the pain. You and yours have been in my thoughts every day since.....
Dear deldad,
I am so sorry for your loss. I keep picturing Nick leaving the hotel to celebrate with friends after the game. Happy, enjoying the moment, as all of our boys have done.
I pray that you'll be able to find some comfort in knowing how many lives he touched in his short time here on earth and that God will wrap you in His loving arms and heal the deep pain you must be feeling this week. You are not alone. God bless.
I am so sorry for your loss. I keep picturing Nick leaving the hotel to celebrate with friends after the game. Happy, enjoying the moment, as all of our boys have done.
I pray that you'll be able to find some comfort in knowing how many lives he touched in his short time here on earth and that God will wrap you in His loving arms and heal the deep pain you must be feeling this week. You are not alone. God bless.
Thoughts and prayers from the Jacobs High School Baseball family.
So very sorry for your loss. Have been praying for the family since the accident. Prayers sent from Cecilia, LA
An update on services for Nick.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sp...rt16,0,6529567.story
Please keep the families of Nick, Courtney Stewart, Henry Pearson, and accident survivor Jon Wilhite in your thoughts and prayers.
Julie
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sp...rt16,0,6529567.story
Please keep the families of Nick, Courtney Stewart, Henry Pearson, and accident survivor Jon Wilhite in your thoughts and prayers.
Julie
LATimes on the impact he had on the Angels during his too short time with the team.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/...,0,684285,full.story
http://www.latimes.com/sports/...,0,684285,full.story
I watched Nick's game highlights from the night before he passed.
As I watched I thought "man, what a hook!". I thought he had offically arrived...the next morning my brother sent me a text with the aweful news.....
Prayers and love to the Adenhart family.
As I watched I thought "man, what a hook!". I thought he had offically arrived...the next morning my brother sent me a text with the aweful news.....
Prayers and love to the Adenhart family.
This comes from a friend/mentor of 2B who is in the Angels organization. I don't think he would mind if I shared his very eloquent statement.
"I played with Nick every year since 2005. He was ahead of me but I got called up to Salt Lake last year and Arkansas in 07 and got to catch him in a start last year. He was such a great guy on and off the field. A real funny guy in the clubhouse and fun to be around all the time. I've caught quite a few guys and Nick had the best stuff of anyone I've ever caught. I always thought he would play in the Big Leagues for a long time and it looked like he had finally figured it out at that level. It is a sad reminder to cherish everyday we are given because we never know when our time will come."
What a fine young man he must have been. We send our hopes for peace for the Adenhart family.
"I played with Nick every year since 2005. He was ahead of me but I got called up to Salt Lake last year and Arkansas in 07 and got to catch him in a start last year. He was such a great guy on and off the field. A real funny guy in the clubhouse and fun to be around all the time. I've caught quite a few guys and Nick had the best stuff of anyone I've ever caught. I always thought he would play in the Big Leagues for a long time and it looked like he had finally figured it out at that level. It is a sad reminder to cherish everyday we are given because we never know when our time will come."
What a fine young man he must have been. We send our hopes for peace for the Adenhart family.
Dear friends,
Many of you, like me, still think of Nick every day, along with his friends Courtney and Henry who also were lost in the accident, and Jon Wilhite who is recovering. A week later we learned of the tragic loss of Brandon, son of lclcoach, and this week our dear friend and member JT, who we have mourned and honored in separate threads.
Several members have suggested that we create a new forum, In Memory, so that we can continue to honor our departed friends. I think this is a good idea, and will allow us not only to grieve, but also to post fond memories such as the one 2Bmom shared above, and any news of memorial scholarships or foundations.
I wanted to let you know that I will be creating an In Memory forum, and that you will be able to find Nick's memorial thread and others there in the future.
Julie
Many of you, like me, still think of Nick every day, along with his friends Courtney and Henry who also were lost in the accident, and Jon Wilhite who is recovering. A week later we learned of the tragic loss of Brandon, son of lclcoach, and this week our dear friend and member JT, who we have mourned and honored in separate threads.
Several members have suggested that we create a new forum, In Memory, so that we can continue to honor our departed friends. I think this is a good idea, and will allow us not only to grieve, but also to post fond memories such as the one 2Bmom shared above, and any news of memorial scholarships or foundations.
I wanted to let you know that I will be creating an In Memory forum, and that you will be able to find Nick's memorial thread and others there in the future.
Julie
That is a truely beautiful idea Julie.
My heart, prayers, and hugzzz go out to all the families who have suffered a tragic loss.
.....my heart is so saddened.
My heart, prayers, and hugzzz go out to all the families who have suffered a tragic loss.
.....my heart is so saddened.
This is a wonderful idea.