As i may have mentioned in an earlier blog, when i was 17 years old i played for a provincial team, along with three other teams and blew out my shoulder. More specifically i developed an impingement in my shoulder, caused when the tendons in the shoulder are repeatedly passed in between two of the bones in the shoulder ( head of humerus and the acromion process of the scapula) and they rub and become inflamed, and even some micro-tearing occurred as well. this affliction can be mild and heal quickly, or in my case, it can be painful, frustrating and continually reoccurring. this was three years ago, well not quite, my last time pitching was june 30th of 2009, which was also the day that my friend and team mate was buried. thats another topic, one i may never be strong enough to talk about. I spent 8 months doing rehabilitation at one athletic therapist, then feeling i was not progressing as i should be, switched to another therapist for four more months before taking things into my own hands. 

i have done hours upon hours of stretches, tubing exercises, light free weights and some heavy lifting along with as much throwing as i could get in with the weather we have here in Canada. i finally feel like i could step back on the rubber without embarrassing myself. i know that my velocity will be down, and will likely never get back to the 81-84mph that i had just gotten too prior to my injury. that is the most frustrating part, that when i hurt myself, i was as good as i had ever been, my stuff was fantastic and the guys i trained with and threw with all told me that they could tell i was getting some really good pop on my fastball. i was looking for some scholarships down in the states and had some high aspirations. after my injury for nearly a year, i was happy to get my arm above my head and now i'm thankful for everyday that i get to step onto the diamond.

my message, or whatever you may call it, has several parts. firstly, do everything at your own pace, even if people chirp you for taking so long or asking for more time, it's your body, your arm, treat it right. secondly, no matter how often you play, or what level you play, treat every single game like it's special, because it is. God gave us a gift when He gave us baseball, and we should be thankful and cherish it. 

If it's something you do, and if you could, please keep me in your prayers, that i can get back onto the mound, to feel the pure ecstasy of toeing the rubber, just one more time.

thank you.

Lets be friends