RedHawks Draft Player From Team IMPACT
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
OXFORD, Ohio – The Miami University Baseball Team is proud to announce the addition of 12-year-old Tyler Holliday of West Chester, Ohio to their roster. At a ceremony yesterday evening, Tyler was drafted to be the newest RedHawk and received his very own jersey, glove and apparel.
“Team IMPACT is an awesome organization,” said Head Coach Danny Hayden. “To see how excited he was today and to meet 35 new buddies, it’s a really neat thing. It will have just as big of an impact on our guys too. Seeing somebody that has such a great attitude and family support is such a wonderful sight to see. Tyler is smiling 99 percent of the time.”
Tyler has eight team advocates, including Nathan Williams, Ryan Elble, Gary Russo, Julian Flanary, Ryan Haynes, Kendall Johnson, Tyler Harris and Brooks Urich.
“I’m excited to have Tyler be a part of our team,” said Urich. “It brings us back to earth too in that we’re fortunate to be here and playing baseball. He also brings a light to the game and having him around reminds us that it’s just a game at the end of the day and that there are a lot of other things in life that are important.”
Team IMPACT has partnered with the baseball team to give Tyler a unique opportunity to become part of the RedHawks. On the flip side, it gives the baseball team the opportunity to become Tyler’s support team. Tyler was your typical eight-year-old when his parents began to notice spots on his body. After seeing a doctor, he was diagnosed with chicken pox but just six days later he lost all mental function. He was rushed to the hospital and was ultimately diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, an infection which was the result of a tick bite. The infection attacked all of the organs in his body with the exception of his lungs. Tyler was in a coma for a month and spent the following month and a half in ICU. After being released from the hospital, Tyler had to use a wheelchair and feeding tube. However, through therapy, Tyler has been able to relearn how to eat and walk. Tyler goes through multiple types of therapy and truly represents inspiration and dedication.
“Finding a place that Tyler can be accepted and be put back into normal situations has been fantastic for him and his healing,” said Jeanette, Tyler’s mother. “It’s huge. We’re blessed to have found Team IMPACT and that Miami wanted him.”
Team IMPACT endeavors to match children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams. Check out Team IMPACT’s website for more information on the organization.
