Steve Gann
Sandra 1Winter Park Pitcher Makes Comeback After Losing Leg
April 14th 2010 06:09
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Winter Park Pitcher Makes Comeback After Losing Leg
Injuries like blisters on their non-throwing hands, an ingrown toenail, and buttock tightness all forced these multi-millionaires onto the disabled list.
If I were a big league manager, I would make sure that the story of Winter Park's Nate Winters was posted in several locations throughout the clubhouse, dugout, and bullpen.
Nate Winters could really count just being alive as a miracle after a boating accident nearly killed him two years ago.
Winters was boating with his older brother and a couple friends when he was suddenly thrown overboard by a sharp turn. He was then ran over and hit by the boat's propeller.
His left leg was damaged beyond repair and two toes on his right leg were lost. Thankfully his brother and friends were able to pull him back aboard.
By the time he reached the hospital, he had lost nearly 80 percent of his blood, and according to one trauma center doctor, it was more than anyone ever had lost, and still lived.
When his parents arrived, they were escorted into the chaplain's office to prepare for the worst.
The doctors somehow saved him and he was fitted for a prosthetic leg. Nate seemed content for a while forming a band and practicing on his guitar. Soon however, the baseball fever returned and he starting throwing with disastrous results at first, including losing his artificial leg and falling off the mound.
His father Tom encouraged Nate to keep trying, "All I've ever told him was that every player has a last game of baseball, whether it's in Little League, high school, college or Major Leagues. Everyone deserves a chance to cross that finish line a final time. I just wanted him to leave on his terms.''
Nate did get the opportunity to leave on his own terms and then some. He got his chance to pitch against Colonial and was able shut them out for four plus innings.
He started and allowed just one hit and one unearned run before leaving after one batter in the fifth.
"This turned out better than I ever imagined it would,'' Winters said after getting a standing ovation from the crowd in the stands and from players in both dugouts. "I guess miracles do happen.
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