2004

WEEK OF ...l....:ft~n_;:::_d....::::..~----

The 2004 East Central Community College Warrior baseball team. Wani rs dedicate season to injured teammate SJre

Jake Yarborough said play– ers ':'.ill display Fortenber– ry's :\o. 29 on their caps throughout the 2004 cam– paign in tribute to their fall– en teammate. · Yarborough said Forten– berry, a 6-3, 211-pound right– hander and former standout at Carthage High School, was among freshman hurlers competing for the starting rotation. He was also expected to see playing time in the outfield. Yarborough said Forten– berry,s accident has been "devastating to our whole baseball team." "Our hearts and prayers go out to John and his fami– ly," Yarborough said, "and we hope for a quick recovery. John is a very athletic young man and one of our top freshmen. We will miss him this season but the most important thing is his health and well being." Fortenberry is the son of Dawn and Cookie Fortenber– ry of Carthage. Yarborough, now in his third year as ECCC head coach, led the Diamond War-

When baseball season eets under way February 12-for the East Central Communitv College Diamond WarriorS, players will have more than scoring runs and winning games on their minds. Team members will also direct their thoughts toward John Fortenberry, a fresh– man pitcher from Carthage, who sustained a season-end– ing injury dlll·ing an intra– squad scrimmage on Jan– uary 23.

Fortenberry was hit in the face by a line drive, crushing the ride side of his face. He tmderwent several hours of AP p EJ. Slll~e~ atUniversity of Mis– lSSlPPl .Medical Center in Jackson LAKE I following the incident, but effmis to save his right eye scon were not successful. UNION Another surgery was per– formed January 29, during which time doctors removed WINST 1 his eye and reconstructed SPIRIT the right sid~ of his face. Fortenberry 1s expected to 1M p AC' receive an artificial eye sometime in March. Diamond Warrior head

CARTHAGINIAN ------- NESHOBADEMOCRAT ________ NEWTON RECORD V ~------- MERIDIAN STAR -------- CLARION-LEDGER -----------