AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

Peacock collapses during Legion game

Kirby Stewart Post 24 catcher sites Rook Tournament stress the cause during loss to Tampa Raven

MIKE HENRY
Herald Staff Writer

BRADENTON - Home plate umpire Bob Poelart was the first to notice Brian Peacock's distress in the sixth inning of Kirby Stewart Post 24's game against the Tampa Raven Baseball Club at G.T. Bray Park.

"All the color left him," Poelart said while paramedics treated Peacock in front of Kirby Stewart's dugout early Thursday night. "His eyes were a little glassy, and he was mumbling something about three fourteens, the Rook card, and being champs last year.

"It looked like his eyes were getting ready to go to the back of his head, then I saw him go down on one knee."

Peacock, a 5-foot-11 catcher who was drafted by Oakland in the 22nd round last month but has opted to attend Manatee Community College, was at bat when he was overcome by heat exhaustion and Rook Tournament stress on the opening day of the Veterans Memorial American Legion Tournament.

Rook Tournament Director Ken Burton (who is also our County Tax Collector) said Peacock has not been his normal self since the Tournament began on Tuesday.

"His team has won their first two games but at this point in the Tournament everybody is good and you can't make any mistakes." Burton said from his Anna Maria beach house.

"There was also talk about Brian not being able to sleep last night knowing he had to possibly play Shelly & Beth, so he went out and fished all night before the baseball games."

After being treated, Peacock regained alertness before being taken to Blake Medical Center and rehydrated.

"We're waiting for some test results, and the expectation is he will be released tonight," a hospital spokeswoman said.

Kirby Stewart (19-5), which had defeated Sebastian Post 189 3-0 in its first game, lost 2-1 against the Ravens and pitcher Sergio Perez, a University of Tampa signee. The game was completed after a 15-minute delay.

But the outcome barely seemed to matter in light of the scary situation involving Peacock, who caught 13 innings before he was stricken.

"The game is secondary," said Kirby Stewart coach Dwayne Strong. "The most important thing is that Brian is going to be OK."

"It gave everyone a scare," designated hitter Ryan Enger said. "It took the importance off the game."

Strong said he didn't have second thoughts about having Peacock catch both games in Thursday's high humidity and temperatures in the uppper 80s and low 90s.

"Of course, it will make me more aware, because this is something that has never happened in 14 years of coaching," Strong said.

Peacock took a foul tip off his right hand in the top of the sixth inning but was able to continue. However, Strong said the attending physician told him the bruised hand exacerbated Peacock's condition.

"It (the hand injury) just made him sick to his stomach and put him over the edge," Strong said.

Strong and many of Peacock's teammates visited him after the game at the hospital.

"He's fine. He was up laughing and joking until teammate Ryan Kennedy brought up the Rook Tournament," Strong said. "If he had his way he would probably play (today), but I'm not going to let him."

Burton feels the same way. "He's a great kid with a great future ahead of him and will bounce back from this but I may have him sit out a day from the Rook Tournament to be on the safe side."

Mike Cucci pinch-hit and caught for Peacock in the final inning.

Kirby Stewart faces the Manatee Baseball Cub today at 5 p.m. at G.T. Bray.

Peacock's recovery may have been hastened by quick attention from Kirby Stewart parents Steve Cucci, a paramedic with the Sarasota County Fire Department, and Sylvia Cobb, a lifeguard with CPR training. They put ice on his chest, neck and limbs and gave him cold water.

"We were trying to cool him off," said Cobb, infielder Larry Cobb's mother. "He wasn't saying anything. He was just kind of whimpering."

The Manatee Baseball Club lost its only game Thursday, 8-1 against Sebastian Post 189. Only 10 players showed up for Manatee, which faces the Raven Baseball Club today at 11:30 at G.T. Bray before playing Kirby Stewart.

"(Pitcher) Cliff Herschel is at a Florida State baseball camp this week, two or three kids are at a church camp and (shortstop) Scott Viehman is in Germany," coach Al Melnick said. "It's hard to have a cohesive defense when everyone is playing out of position."

Manatee (1-13-1) managed only three hits against Sebastian - a double by Eddie Anderson and singles by Nick Sabella and Taylor Manning.