Throwing out the primary pitch to David Ortiz at Fenway Park is one thing most individuals by no means have the chance to expertise.
For Middleborough’s Dominic Driscoll, taking the mound forward of Saturday’s recreation between the Red Sox and Dodgers was a part of an unforgettable day en path to his purpose of being knowledgeable baseball participant.
Even extra spectacular than Driscoll’s nationally acknowledged expertise getting into his eighth-grade season is his unwavering work ethic regardless of a congenital coronary heart situation. His efforts had been acknowledged and rewarded in the course of the April Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island fortieth Anniversary Gala.
Ortiz, acknowledged in the course of the gala for his contributions to the Make-A-Wish group, introduced his fortieth want granted could be to spend a day with Driscoll and his household. Driscoll informed the Herald whenever you’re in Boston with Big Papi, it’s a surreal expertise.
“I would definitely say I was starstruck,” Driscoll stated. “It’s like walking around with the President. Every single Boston fan, even Dodger fans, were all screaming for him. He can do really whatever he wants, so it’s awesome to just hang out around a legend.”
Ortiz, in a press release, stated assembly youngsters like Driscoll has been an honor and lauded their braveness whereas with the ability to make a constructive influence.
“Meeting Dom and so many other brave kids through Make-A-Wish here in Boston over the years, it’s been so meaningful to me,” Ortiz stated. “They’re the true heroes and I’m thankful to be able to make things a little brighter for wish kids.”
Driscoll stated his day included just a few surprising stops, together with a visit contained in the Red Sox clubhouse and assembly gamers resembling Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner and Alex Verdugo. Other stops included a stroll across the subject, a tour contained in the Green Monster, an opportunity to signal Pesky Pole, lunch within the stadium and, after all, the primary pitch.
Driscoll stated he and Verdugo chatted within the Sox dugout, the place the 14-year-old’s Home Run Derby participation was introduced up.
“He was asking me all about the event, which is super cool because he’s a big leaguer and he really wanted to know more about it and was asking questions,” Driscoll stated. “He also asked me if I could strike him out. I said yeah.”
Sean Holleran, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, lauded the Red Sox group for helping within the occasion and praised Driscoll for his perseverance and willingness to proceed taking part in baseball.
“Dom had three open heart surgeries immediately in the first two years of his life, but he has surpassed all of those initial expectations,” Holleran stated. “He is a completely driven young person, working out constantly, in the batting cage by choosing a sport that has allowed him to be active, but also take some breaks as baseball does.”
His father Bill stated he and his spouse Kristen determined that when Dominic was born, they might do all the things to not deal with him in another way and to push these identified limitations as a result of they didn’t really feel they had been really limitations to what their son may accomplish.
“Any time a kid goes out on the field, there’s a chance that something could happen and, as a parent, you’re always nervous,” Bill Driscoll stated. “But you just trust God and you know that in your heart that you’re doing the right thing and you’re gonna give your kid every opportunity to fulfill his dream.”
Dominic was holding wiffle ball bats in the home since he was a bit child, Bill stated, figuring out that was part of his life he and Kristen couldn’t take away from him.
Both dad and mom thanked Children’s Hospital and Make-A-Wish for granting Dominic with this chance to get a style of the massive leagues, whereas Holleran inspired others to volunteer or donate to assist others’ needs come true.
“We just feel so grateful for this opportunity,” Kristen stated. “This wish has been in the works for a while and just being able to be there with Dom and being able to see the look on his face as he got this experience was really amazing.”
Bill additionally thanked North East Baseball, the group his son participates in, for being a second household to the Driscolls. Dominic expressed his due to everybody who performed a component in organizing his want however continued to say his need to repeatedly enhance earlier than he’s in highschool.
“I just want to get a lot better, a lot stronger and a lot faster,” he stated.
Asked how he handles the expectations of setting a typical for youths with coronary heart situations much like his with the ability to thrive athletically, Driscoll stated he embraces all of it and makes use of it as a chip on his shoulder to inspire himself.
Driscoll has additionally needed to play the sport he loves as a result of others in conditions much like his, can’t. Driscoll even stitched the title of former NFL tight finish Greg OIsen’s son, TJ, who additionally underwent coronary heart transplants, in his uniform two years in the past and donated baseballs to him, Bill stated.
“As much as Dom does it for himself, he’s doing it for all those other kids,” his father continued. “So he just wants to show everyone that if you can dream it, you can do it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com