Nick Adenhart(photo - LA Angels)
There are times when we believe that people are taken off this Earth too soon. No more evident was this thought than the death of Anahiem Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Adenhart was one of the passangers in a car that was hit in an intersection by a suspected drunk driver who ran a red-light.
Adenhart died at the hospital, while two others also died, and a fourth person is in critical condition.
What makes this situation more tragic is that the 22-year old Adenhart had just made his fourth major league start, pitching six scoreless innings, athough the Angels eventually lost the game.
His final Major League stats - 4 starts, 1-0 record, 18.0 innings pitched, 6.00 ERA.
Adenhart's death is one that makes everyone think.we never know who might be coming through that intersection while we are going through. One of the simplest things, driving, with the constant threat that none of us think about.
Nick Adenhart was someone who overcame Tommy-John surgery when he was 18, and the Angels decided to take a chance on him anyway. The Maryland native passed up a scholarship offer to the University of North Carolina to realize his dream.
He was regarded as the best pitching prospect in the Angels system by Baseball America. He seemed posed to be at the top of a big league rotation for years to come.
Adenhart's father was in the stands to see his son pitch wednesday night, and also to find out the news. His father spoke to the Angels on Thursday afternoon, as the team postponed its game on Thursday night. The team plans a tribute before Friday's game and will wear a patch on their uniforms for the rest of the season.
A memorial had started outside Angels Stadium Thursday afternoon, with flowers, signs, ballons, and jerseys. One sign read "You now pitch for a different team of Angels."
Another example of someone taken too soon, Nick Adenhart was 22. And he makes us all think about the simple things in life.
Here is one of ESPN's articles - http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4057084. Other ESPN articles can be found on the right side of that page.
Nick Adenhart delevers a pitch during Thursday night's game. Hours later, he was gone from this Earth.
(photo - AP, Mark Terrill)
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