On the morning of January 23, life changed for Griffen Ives, like it did for so many others that day at Marshall County High School and in the Marshall County community. Ives was seriously wounded in the shooting that morning that left two fellow students dead and many others injured.
Ives was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville and in the next 48 hours, underwent two surgeries, then began the long road to recovery.
Tuesday in the Marshals Senior Night game…105 days later…Ives walked out to the mound to pitch the fifth inning, his first appearance in a game this season, with a huge grin on his face to a tearful, emotional, standing ovation.
“It felt really good”, Ives said. He has been practicing with the team since April 20th and said the decision to play Tuesday was based just on how he felt and he wanted to play for the seniors. About that first pitch…Ives said “it was nerve-wracking” and it just happened to be a strike.
“It was more emotional for all of us than we expected”, Head Coach Rob McDonald said. “He’s just at a point where he’s out there competing and he feels like he’s ready to go.”
McDonald said that he and Coach Shane Darnall aren’t around the pitchers as much and it seemed a little more dramatic for them to see him run out there to the mound…and throw well.
“If he had gone out there and walked five guys in a row…it’s still fantastic, still unbelievable…but to come out and compete well and throw well…it’s remarkable”, McDonald said. “He had to get healthy and he had to get in pitching shape…and he’s getting there on both fronts.”
