2004

forget. 1'll still have a flashback about it at least once a day." Still, Fortenberry plans to resume playing once he's cleared to play - evenwith an acrylic eye. "I'mready right now," he said. "I've just got to getthrough all this surgery and~tuff. "Once I get backout there, I'msure the thought (of it happening again) would get to you, but it's baseball. It's one of those things thathappened." Despite the fact that Fortenberry plans to wear protective goggle-like eyewear once his long recQvery is complete, his mother, Dawti Forten· berry is concerned. John Fortenberry's medical bills (covered by East Central's insurance policy) have already topped the $100,000 mark, according to Dawn Fortenberry. He will have to hi! re-fit· ted for a new acrylic eye every four years for the rest ofhislife, she said. "To be honest, l'm nervous. I'm scared,• Dawn Fortenberry said of her son's intention to return to base-

ger several years ago while trying to protect himself when his son Trey - then a teenager in high school- hit a ball backathim. "I didn't even have time to react," Proctor remembered. "Thatwas back when I was younger and could react better, too. I know exactly what they're going through (as pitchers). I'll never forget it." The Fortenberrys have fresh reminders of how tough the pain can be. JohnFortenberry, 18, said he nev– er had a chance during a Jan. 27 intrasquad game in Decatur when a teammate hit ascreamingball backat the freshman pitcher. "I remember it all," he said earher thisweek. "It wasa fastball onthe out· side corner. Before I even got through with my follow through, the ball hit me. I sawit right before it hit me "'t came back so fast, itwas kind of likeabullet. I'mtellingyou it was wry fast. When it hit me, it felt like a knife stabbing into you. "'~'s one of those thinr;s I'll never

"Thatmeans that more andmore of our players are at risk." Injuries have resulted in legal action in California and Illinois, according to published reports. MHSAA executive director Ennis Proctor, avictim of being injured by a batted ball, knows firsthand aboutthe risks. "TheNational HighSchool Federa- tion has worked with these bat com– panies to cut down on the velocity coming off the bat," Proctor said. "It has helped a little, but there is still a lot ofwork to be done. "We're as concerned about girls softball as well. Any time there's a ~ely factor, we're concerned. This is definitely asafety (concern)." Proctor broke his ri "11t pinkie fin-