Story information submitted by
CJERYL MASON
FYBA Secretary

Photos by
JUDY GRIFFIN

Last Saturday, April 25, the Forney Youth Baseball Association opened its first season as an affiliate of Little League.

Opening day ceremonies began at approximately 12:15 p. m. in Mulberry Park with posting of the Colors and the singing of the National Anthem. Three special guests were present to mark this special occasion by throwing out honorary first pitches: Skeeter Phillips, 14, a freshman at Forney High School; Micah Diffee, 5; and Tommy Floyd Summers, Jr., a corporal with the U. S. Army National Guard.

Although only 14, Skeeter Phillips already stands 6’3”. Although he’s an amputee (he lost a foot following an accident when he was 6), he plays football, basketball, and participates in downhill snow skiing, and he marches with the FHS Band while playing the tuba. He recently attended the Amputee Ski Trip with a group from Scottish Rite Hospital, and he will attend summer camp with the Amputee Coalition of America.

Micah Diffee will start Kindergarten at Henderson Elementary School at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. He was born with a condition known as Caudal Regression Syndrome and is missing the lower lumbar portion of his spine. Although he can feel his legs, he can’t move them. Although Micah’s in a wheelchair, he’s not bound by anything.  On one occasion, this young baseball player related a hit this way: “I hit the ball waaaay out there and then I beat the throw to the base.” How did he do it? Not in his wheel chair! He “ran” to first base on his hands and still beat the throw!

Cpl. Tommy Floyd Summers, Jr. has served our country for 10 years in the Army National Guard. He arrived home in Forney on Friday, April 24, for two weeks of much-needed R&R. His hobbies include spending quality time with his wife, Eilia, and four boys and one daughter. One of his sons, Daniel Aybar, 21, is also currently on duty in Iraq. Tommy enjoys baseball and likes watching his youngest son play football.

After the traditional call to “play ball!”, 34 games of Little League baseball were played in Mulberry Park to open the season.

After the opening day ceremonies, the FYBA had bounce houses, carnival games, tattoos and raffles all day.

“We had a fabulous turnout and a great day of Little League baseball in Forney,” Cheryl Mason said. “This is the first year that FYBA affiliated with Little League, so we were very excited about that as well.”

*See the April 30, 3009 issue of the Forney Messenger for additional photos.