Joe Koch of the Tri-State Sports & News Service had a great story on Tuesday about Rocco Amendola, a senior at Norwin High School (North Huntingdon, PA) who lost his eye when he was hit by a warmup throw last year. Told he would probably never play baseball again, Amendola instead proved that perfect depth perception is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Rocco Amendola defies the odds every time he steps into the batter’s box for the Norwin High School baseball team.
That’s because this 5-foot-10, 205-pound senior, a designated hitter and occasional first baseman, has the use of just his right eye.
“I had my doubts,” Norwin coach Mike Liebdzinski said. “I wouldn’t say I’m amazed, but I am surprised.”
Mr. Amendola, who bats seventh in the lineup, is hitting .429 with a double and one RBI. He has helped Norwin to a 5-0 record.
Amendola began his comeback by hitting off of a tee, and eventually re-trained himself to hit live pitching. His doctors say he now has no limitations. The fact that he bats left-handed, meaning that his good eye is his lead eye at the plate, made the comeback possible. He now wants to play in college.
“I’m going to base that on the season I have,” he said. “College ball is one level up from here. I’ll have to work harder and dedicate more time to it, but I believe I could do it.”
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Pittsburgh senior returns from losing eye to hit .400 [Prep Rally]
He lost his eye, but not his vision [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
