Friday, May 02, 2008
Joey Walters takes to the field with JV team
Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times
Joey Walters returns a ball hit to right field, where he played for several innings against Radford High School on Wednesday.
Since earning a spot on Eastern Montgomery High School's junior varsity baseball team in February, sophomore Joey Walters has played most games as a right fielder, according to coach Jacob Davidson.
Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1997, Joey suffers seizures about five times a week and has problems with impulse control and social development. He declared it his dream to play baseball last season, but he was the only person cut from the JV team. He asked to be team manager, but the team didn't have one.
This season, the JV team has a 2-9 record. Four games are left, including a game tonight at Giles High School. On Wednesday, the team lost 19-0 against Radford High School at the Thomas R. Trigg Recreational Park.
Aide Adam Linkous supervises Joey at practices and games and reports Joey's seizures to the school system. He said Joey is still an excellent thrower.
"Given the situation, what he can do is pretty amazing," Linkous said.
-- Lindsay Key
