Florida H.S. Pitcher Overcomes Loss of Leg to Start Again

Filed under: High School Sports

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Nate Winters didn’t throw a perfect game — no hits, no runs, no walks, no base runners — in the true baseball sense.

It was perfect in every other way.

Winters is a gritty 16-year-old Winter Park High School junior who lost his left leg at mid-thigh and parts of his right leg in a horrific boating accident that nearly killed him 20 months ago, and returned to pitch again in varsity competition Monday night.

He limped to the mound to start the game against Colonial, and he limped off the mound after three outs each inning, taking the ball with a maturity and determination that far exceeds his years. His fastball was clocked at 80 mph, average for high school, but there was nothing average about his return to baseball.
   

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“He’s just a fierce, fierce competitor,” longtime Winter Park baseball coach Bob King said. “It’s why he was able to come back so quickly. It’s why he’s alive today. Forget baseball, it’s the only reason he survived.”

He left opposing batters baffled by his curveball and surprised by his control. He left a crowd of about 500 — friends, family, baseball curious — inspired, in awe, cheering and smiling with every pitch. For those that knew his story, there were tears of pride and joy.

He started and allowed just one hit and one unearned run before leaving after one batter in the fifth.

“This turned out better than I ever imagined it would,” Winters said after getting a standing ovation from the crowd in the stands and from players in both dugouts. “I guess miracles do happen.”

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Florida H.S. Pitcher Overcomes Loss of Leg to Start Again

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Florida H.S. Pitcher Overcomes Loss of Leg to Start Again