By: Leslie Gomez

There were no plans in Josh Hall’s future to play baseball beyond his senior season at Lee County High School. He did plan on playing more than three games during his senior season.

After breaking his wrist in the Yellow Jackets home opener against Triton, his LCHS and baseball career was over. Hall says, “as I’m sitting on the bench outside of the dugout it starts hitting me that I’m not gonna be able to play the rest of my senior year.” 

It was a routine play, a play that Hall had completed successfully countless times. Hall put his glove out, intending to complete the catch and get the runner out at first. He did no different from any other time but this time he didn’t know it would be his last play of his baseball career. When Hall reflects on this play, he says, “I immediately knew it was broke when I looked at it.”

Hall made his way to the hospital and was immediately sent in for emergency surgery. The Jackets finished up the game with a win. Soon after, some of Hall’s closest teammates were on the way to WakeMed to be there when Hall was able to be seen. Many funny moments were made but there was one that stood out the most. Landon Miles shares, “we finally got back there and he was really high off of whatever they were giving him. He was cussing up a storm, we were all laughing and joking.”

Miles, Hall’s best friend who’s been by his side since they were just 8-years-old, says that he was in disbelief when he saw Hall get injured so early into their final season together. Miles says, “I just didn’t really believe it.” 

Going into his last year of baseball, Hall’s plans before getting injured were to have fun and have an amazing and memorable season. It was definitely a memorable season for Hall. He has a good support system through his teammates he’s been best buds with through high school and even past years. Miles says, “I’m his co-worker, classmate, teammate, but off the record, he’s my best friend. I’ve done everything in my life with him.” This shows the bond that Miles and Hall have acquired through the sport.

Miles says he finally came to the realization he wasn’t going to play with his best friend his senior year at 2 AM, that same night Miles continued reflecting on what had happened to his best friend, this major scenario shows just how close their bond truly is.

Dalton Hardee, LCHS baseball coach is someone who has a strong and positive view on Hall because he saw his physical ability at his highest and lowest points. Hardee believes losing a key player as a positive. The LCHS baseball coach says, “losing him helps motivate them because they know how close they were together, that motivated them to work hard and play better.

“Now that I’ve experienced this injury, I’m a lot more thankful for when I’m fully healthy,” Hall reminisces. Despite the injury Hall has faced, he feels as if it relieved him in some way. “I’m also a lot more calm cause I put a lot of stress on myself about my performance in baseball and not having to worry or stress about that has made me calm down a little bit,” Hall explains.

Hall and the Yellow Jackets celebrate senior night against Southern Lee Wednesday night.