World Around You January-February 1997 Table of Contents; Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University-

J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y - 1 9 9 7

Pitching in for Success
CSDF Athlete Succeeds on--and off--the Baseball Field

As Mike Pereira, baseball coach and counselor at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont (CSDF), watched the Ernesto Gallegos practice pitching, he became excited. "I saw he could still do it," he said.

When Pereira asked Ernesto, then 17, to try out for pitcher of the CSDF baseball team, Ernesto hesitated. Mike had encouraged him to play before, too, but he had not done so. He had lost his leg two years before and now he walked with an artificial leg. The adjustment had been painful.

But on returning to school, Ernesto told Mike he would give baseball a try and when Mike saw Ernesto practicing, he knew he had a winner.

Star Pitcher
Now a junior, Ernesto is looking forward to his second season on the mound for CSDF. Last year, he was a sensation.

"His record was 2-6," said Pereira, who has become Ernesto's biggest fan. "But he's much better than that. His earned run average is about three. Once he struck out eight players in four innings. He has a good curve ball and a wicked side arm. I'd say the balls he pitches travel at 70-72 miles per hour."

Ernesto showed a heroic spirit even before getting on the mound, said Pereira. "When he lost his hair because of chemotherapy, he told his mother not to worry because 'lots of athletes have shaved heads,'" he remembered.

In June, Ernesto was asked to throw out a first pitch in the Oakland Athletics-New York Yankees game. "Another guy got to throw first and his pitch was high," remembered Pereira. "Ernesto's was perfect, smacked right in the glove. The whole stadium cheered."

CSDF Pitches in for New Leg
Although Ernesto was pitching well, Pereira wondered if he would pitch even better with a better leg--a leg more expensive than insurance money would pay for. He asked Ernesto how he felt about raising money toward the purchase of a new leg. Ernesto checked with his parents and the family decided to give fund raising a try.

The response was immediate. The junior NAD raised money from a car wash. One of the girls' cottages decided to donate the $200 that they had saved for their end of the year party. The Student Body Government donated $500.

"We are like a family here," said Pereira. "The response was amazing."

Stories about Ernesto appeared in the local newspaper. Then donations from the community began to arrive, too. The largest donation was from Nova Care, a prothesis company from San Jose, California. Nova Care agreed to provide doctor's services for free and the parts of the artificial leg at cost.

Last summer, with the Nova Care donation and $5000 raised by CSDR, Ernesto became the proud possessor of a $30,000 leg. It is the same kind of artificial leg that athletes use in the para Olympics.

"He's dealing with the new leg now," said Pereira. "It's better, but it works differently than his other leg."

Even as he gets used to it, Ernesto continues to get himself in condition for baseball season. He is in the weight room constantly.

"He is always pushing himself," said Pereira. "He is an inspiration."

General comments may be sent to: ISCS.ClercCenter@gallaudet.edu

Pitching in for Success CSDF Athlete Succeeds on--and off--the Baseball Field

Pitching in for Success
CSDF Athlete Succeeds on--and off--the Baseball Field