COURAGE On February 28, 2006, the Bisons baseball team prepared for a home game against Crichton College. As fans crowded Jerry Moore Stadium, everything was how it should be. That is, until the fifth inning of the game. The Bisons took the field while the Crichton Comets were up to bat. A junior at the time, Jordan Blake, pitcher for the Bisons, stood ready to strike out his opponents. But when he threw to Crichton’s leading hitter, the batter hit a line drive straight at him, and he was hit in the left side of his head near his temple. Blake’s girlfriend, senior Ashley Walker, was at the game that day. “Jordan’s mom and I were just sitting there watching,and,all the sudden,Jordan was just down on the ground,”Walker said.“I thought it had just hit his arm, so I wasn’t really worried.” It was not until Dr. Randy Lambeth, Bison athletic trainer, came out to the field that Walker became aware of the gravity of the situation. “He wasn’t talking,”Walker said.“Doc Lambeth was trying to ask him questions, and his eyes were open, and he was never unconscious.” The severity of the injury was immediately apparent to those in the stands and on the field. During the next two weeks,Blake stayed at the White CountyHospital.He suffered from internal bleeding and severe brain swelling.Because of the extent of his injury and the location of impact, Blake lost his ability to read, write and speak. “I understood what I heard,”Blake said.“I just couldn’t read anything and couldn’t say anything. I knew what I wanted to say, but it wouldn’t come out.” But Blake did not allow the obstacle to discourage him. “He always had a really good attitude about it,”Walker said.“He never complained. Later on, when he started talking again, he would make jokes about it.” After two weeks at White County Hospital, Blake went to his home in Houston, Texas, to recover. Doctors told him he would need at least a year for recovery.This meant no school and no baseball. But Blake exceeded all expectations when he started school that fall. Even though the doctors were hesitant for Blake to return to school,he had no trouble getting back into the swing of things. “With school, the doctors told me that they thought I would have to sit out of school a year and let my brain recover because I wouldn’t have the ability to go back to class,” Blake said. “But I just sat out the summer, three or four months, and went back to school that fall.” WithBlake’s educational concerns settled,he set his sights back on baseball.However, his parents, doctors and girlfriend all worried for Blake’s safety. If Blake were to be hit in the head again, the consequences could have been fatal.But Blake had made up his mind. So, he took the field in February 2007.Only this season he did not return as pitcher but played first base instead. “I decided to be on the team and just play a different position and not have to risk getting hit again,” Blake said. Blake graduated in May 2007 with no regrets. He took away from that experience a greater understanding of the power of God and prayer. “It definitely makes you stronger with your faith,” Blake said. “You never know what’s going to happen.” [Hannah Ware] Senior overcomes injury for love of game Senior first baseman Devin Watts rips a hard-hit ball to the outfield April 21, 2007 during the Bisons game against Arkansas-Monticello. Watts went 1 for 3 with a double to right center field in the match. [Craig Rainbolt] 268 [athletics]
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