2004

Baseball player's 0 Fortenberry

"I t all went well," Fortenber– ry's moth– er, Dawn , said of the Thu rsday operation. " T h e reconstruc– tion looks

standout pitcher at Carthage High School, underwent suc– cessful sur gery to remove his right eye and to reconstruct the side of his face with titani– um plates on Thursday, less than a week after being hit in the face with a batted ball. He is the son of Dawn and The injuries occurred dur– ing an intrasquad game at ECCC following the team's sec– ond week of spring practice on ~riday, Jan. 23. Roddie Fortenberry of Carthage.

vows to return to ECCC next season Before having even fully recovered from the pain of six– and-a-half hours worth of sur– gery, East Central Community College freshman baseball player John Fortenberry has vowed to return to the dia– mond in 2005. Fortenberry, a former

r e a l 1 y t&AJL.IL.&.&.ILIL:E:::::~.!..-J good." FORTENBERRY Dawn said her son was out– fitted with a prosthetic eye during the operation as well

eye removed

head and eye he can play." While the past two weeks have been trying, John's moth– er expressed thanks for all who have shown concern and offered prayers during the ordeal. John's teammates at ECCC and the coaching staff have offered much support, she said. "The coaches and his team– mates have been behind him 150 percent," she said, adding

and he will soon visit an "~ye a rtist" in Jackson who Will exactly match it with the color of his left eye. Doctors previously enlight– ened John about the steps he will have to take to adjust to sight with only one eye, Dawn ~aid, but he is already looking toward a return to the ECCC playing field. "The doctors and his coach– es have talked to him and he said, 'I will play again."' Dawn said. "The doctors said as long as he had protection on his

APPE~

>-See Fortenberry on lOA

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