In September, 2003, a small plane crashed in northeast Indiana, taking the lives of a mother, her 5-year old son and 11-year old daughter. The woman’s husband and 8-year old son were the sole survivors. The child eventually set a goal to become a star high school basketball player in the Hoosier State, a place known for that. He also developed an ambition to play basketball for the University of Michigan.
On June 15, 2011, Austin Hatch, with father Stephen at his side, moved a Big Ten step closer to making that dream a reality when he accepted an offer to play basketball for John Beilein and the Wolverines. Hatch had indeed become a 6′-6″ phenom as a sophomore at Fort Wayne Canterbury High School, averaging 23 points and nine rebounds.
Nine days later, Austin Hatch was involved in a second plane crash and this time his father, the pilot, and step-mother were killed. The son was placed in a drug-induced coma for eight weeks. When Austin Hatch awoke, he not only had to cope emotionally with the loss of his entire remaining immediate family, but brain damage and other injuries meant the talented athlete had to relearn to walk, to talk, even to eat.
There isn’t a soul alive who would have blamed Austin Hatch for dialing back his goals. But the young man didn’t. He struggled through painful and difficult rehabilitation, determined to return to the basketball court.
Against tremendous odds, he did just that — in California, where he was living with relatives. If you’re ready for a lump-in-your-throat moment today, watch and listen to this video of the first shot Austin Hatch attempted for his new high school team.
John Beilein and the University of Michigan upheld their scholarship offer to Austin Hatch. This summer, Austin joined the Michigan basketball program and will enroll as a freshman in the fall. Austin Hatch’s remarkable, improbable journey has been a well reported national story for a couple years.
Why mention it here, now?
Austin Hatch played three minutes in a game this weekend wearing the University of Michigan uniform. Afterward, he was asked to lead the team in “The Victors.”
*****
The Cincinnati Reds will wake up this afternoon in the shadow of the arch in St. Louis.
And tonight they’ll face the Cardinals in a game that marks the beginning of the end of the season — or the opposite. It kicks off the week to which we’ve all been pointing. Three games with St. Louis and four with Atlanta, then the monthlong cage match with the rest of the NL Central.
It hasn’t been announced officially, but Brandon Phillips should return from the disabled list today and rejoin the Reds. The second baseman injured his left thumb on July 9 playing against the Cubs. Initial estimates placed his return at 8-12 weeks. After surgery to repair the torn ligament, doctors shortened the total recovery time to six weeks. Today marks just over five-and-a-half weeks since he dove for dat ground ball at Great American Ball Park.
The team has gone 12-20 since both he and Joey Votto were unavailable.
*****
Wow. Yesterday was a long, painful day. Marty Brennaman described it aptly as “brutal.” The Terrible Reds Offenseâ„¢ hit for a change, the starters pitched well enough in the high altitude, yet the bullpen utterly collapsed. And to the list of injuries, you can add Homer Bailey. Seems like it’s always something with these Reds.
But keep this record in mind:
On May 27, the Reds lost to the Dodgers and Zack Grienke, their fourth defeat in a row. On May 28, they beat Clayton Kershaw.
On May 29, the Reds were humiliated by Josh Collmenter — Josh Collmenter — in the Arizona desert. They won six of their next nine.
On June 20, the Reds jumped out to an 8-0 lead against Toronto, only to watch the bullpen collapse and lose 14-9. It was a devastating defeat. No way to recover. Yet, the Reds not only won 11-1 the next night (with Mike Leake shutting down the powerful Blue Jays), but the Reds proceeded to play their best ball of the year, winning eight of nine.
On July 2, the lowly San Diego Padres completed a three-game sweep of the Reds. Then Cincinnati went 8-3, winning series over the Brewers and Pirates before the All-Star game.
The Reds began the season 3-8 and at the All-Star break, with all the injuries, somehow stood 51-44.
*****
These previous comebacks don’t mean the Reds can do it again versus St. Louis and Atlanta, in the week to which we’ve all been pointing. BP returns but Homer Bailey is on the shelf and Alfredo Simon might as well be. There’s more Dylan Axelrod to come later this week and someone else who we can’t even name will pitch in the opener against the Braves. (Has anyone checked to see if Mo’ne Davis is free on Thursday?)
But determination, resilience and surprise against the odds — think Austin Hatch — is a sports narrative that has not been lost this year on Bryan Price’s team. Obviously, being swept in a baseball doubleheader or putting a pitcher on the disabled list doesn’t compare to the adversity and loss the young basketball player has had to overcome.
Every time we’ve taken the 2014 Reds for goners, each moment we’ve thought their fate was sealed, Bryan Price’s team has found a way to escape.