Unbowed By Tragedy, Bluffton Bounces Back: Game Restores Some Normalcy for Ball Team, Despite 10-5 L

Mar 31, 03:31 PM

Current Headlines: By Joe Vardon, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

Mar. 31--BLUFFTON, Ohio -- Tim Kay looked toward his catcher's glove, went into his motion, and delivered a fastball at 3:59 p.m. yesterday.

Four weeks ago to the day, Mr. Kay and his Bluffton University baseball teammates -- the ones who were still alive -- sat on I-75 in Atlanta wondering when or if they might ever play again.

The umpire called Mr. Kay's first pitch a strike, much to the delight of the estimated crowd of more than 1,500 fans, and the Bluffton baseball team's 2007 season was under way after an unfathomable four-week delay.

A tragic bus crash on I-75 in Atlanta on March 2 killed five Bluffton players, the bus driver, and his wife.

The baseball season was delayed while the team's survivors tried to heal physically and emotionally.

"I've been waiting for this day for four weeks, and once you're inside that fence, everything else goes away," Bluffton center fielder Tony Moore said. "[The field] is my favorite place to be."

The Beavers hosted the College of Mount St. Joseph from Cincinnati yesterday and lost 10-5.

By all accounts, the game itself was the most normal part of the Bluffton players' lives in the last four weeks.

Since the team's bus crash, players, coaches, and families buried players David Betts, of Bryan; Scott Harmon and Tyler Williams, both of Lima, Ohio; Cody Holp, of Arcanum, Ohio, and Zachary Arend, of Oakwood, Ohio.

Tim Berta, a student coach from Ida, Mich., is still in critical condition in an Atlanta hospital.

The team's coach, James Grandey, is back with his players, but his jaw remains wired shut and his right foot is in a brace. Five other players, like their coach, are too injured to put on a uniform.

Thursday night, the Beavers were still engaged in emotionally trying tasks, like hanging banners in honor of their fallen teammates and gathering at Mr. Grandey's house for one last thought-provoking pep talk.

But when yesterday finally arrived, the sun was shining, music played over the loudspeakers, and the Bluffton players were finally getting ready to do what they love -- play ball.

"The best thing that could've happened to this program at this time was to get out and play," Mr. Grandey said.

However, the final moments leading up to the Beavers' return were not without periods of grief and emotion.

A moment of silence was observed prior to the game, followed by a heartfelt prayer from Bluffton President James Harder in which he asked that yesterday be a "time of hope and renewal."

By the time two Bluffton students began singing the National Anthem, some fans were openly weeping, while others were wiping away tears.

Kellie Slabaugh, the mother of Beavers right fielder Allen Slabaugh, shed some tears while congregating with fellow parents an hour before the game.

"I can't wait to see them play, but it's just tough to see everyone together knowing there's some...." Ms. Slabaugh said as her voice trailed off.

Bluffton shortstop Ryan Baightel, who along with Mr. Moore addressed the crowd of about 100 media members, said the tougher moments for himself and his teammates came before the game.

"After the first pitch, some of that stuff was kind of over," Mr. Baightel said.

Some family members of the deceased team members attended, including David Betts' father, John.

Mr. Betts, wearing a ball cap and T-shirt that belonged to his son, said it was therapeutic for him to be at the game.

"It really wasn't tough [to attend the game] for me," Mr. Betts said. "I don't know if I'm like sick, but I'm looking forward to seeing the guys play."

Mr. Betts said the difficult part for him was imagining his son stretch a simple base hit into a double, then wiping the dirt off his uniform and smiling after sliding into second base.

"But then I think of the players, and it overshadows that," he said.

"And I know [the deceased players] are all here with us. I know they are."

The Beavers are honoring their fallen teammates this season by wearing black jerseys donated by Nike, even though the school's primary colors are purple and white.

Mount St. Joseph's players honored their opponents by wearing purple wristbands with their gray, blue, and gold uniforms.

"There are no words to describe what happened here," Mount St. Joseph third baseman Matt Flamm said.

"I'm glad they chose us to be their first game back. It was a privilege to be on the field with them."

Before the game, Mr. Harder said the Beavers' season was no longer about wins and losses, that the players were "already winners."

But following Bluffton's defeat, Mr. Grandey and his players spoke of the potential this team has to win, and of the beauty of being able to come back today and play two more games against Mount St. Joseph.

"Once you get out here, you're a baseball player. And that's what you do -- you go out and play," Mr. Grandey said. "I told them we can win games this year. We're going to be OK."

Contact Joe Vardon at:jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055.

-----

Copyright (c) 2007, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.