The Lipscomb baseball team officially started spring practice on Friday, as it is set to swing into the 2014 season on Feb. 14, a Valentine’s Day special.
However, Wednesday, Feb. 5, marked an even more special moment for the baseball team with the signing of Brooks Russell.
“Russell is a 5-year-old and a five-star recruit,” head coach Jeff Forehand said when asked about his brand new signee.
Brooks is battling a pediatric brain tumor, which, in his case, was found in his spinal cord. The tumor was found following an MRI on May 10 and came as a devastating surprise to the Russell family. In May 2012 Brooks had his surgery to partially remove his tumor and was paralyzed for 6 weeks, relying on a walker to get around.
Brooks’ mother Kari Russell likes to look on the positive side of her firstborn’s life.
“It’s been a roller coaster, but it’s also been a blessing,” Kari Russell said. “We had to learn to watch him walk again, so to be able to watch him finally run and now play sports is just awesome.”
Brooks’ favorite sport is baseball, and if you were to ask him what he wants for pre-game meal, he would tell you ice cream.
Coach Forehand said in the press conference, “I ask Brooks what his best position was, like I ask all my recruits, and he said ‘Hitter’.”
From that moment on, you can bet Forehand didn’t need to ask any more questions. What baseball team doesn’t want a hitter?
“Brooks is a special kid going through some tough things,” Forehand continued. “I think the Lipscomb community always reaches out and does great things to help people like Brooks.”
Brooks’ entire family came with him today to witness his signing. He has a two younger sisters, but he said he doesn’t have a girlfriend just yet.
His mother describes him as “a typical 5-year-old boy, always wanting to go outside and play, wrestle, anything but sit still.”
Even though it’s national signing day for college football, many media outlets were present this afternoon to witness the signing of Russell to Lipscomb University.
“We’ve got you locked up for many years to come, and we look forward to having you become a freshman,” Forehand said.
“It’s awesome,” Kari Russell said in closing. “We feel really blessed to be a part of such a great school.”
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics