Bluffton memorialized its five fallen
players.
By David Rich for D3sports.com
Bluffton tragedy, aftermath |
Nick Weimer went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI and Chris
Waite struck out eight in seven innings as Mt. St. Joseph defeated
Bluffton in the Beavers' season opener, 10-5.
Tony Moore went 3-for-4 for Bluffton, sparking a two-run rally in
the third inning with a leadoff double. The game was attended by
2,500 fans and many national media members.
It was Bluffton's return to the baseball field for the first time
this season, four weeks after the bus crash that killed seven,
including five players. The team was en route to Florida for a
spring trip that was to feature seven games in five days.
The team exchanged its usual purple and white uniforms for all
black, which team members will wear to honor their fallen
teammates. Coach James Grandey, whose leg is in a brace and whose
jaw is wired shut, wasn't coaching the team but was on hand for the
game.
"For the players, it will be a marker that allows them to move on
in some ways, but never forget that part of their team isn't with
them anymore," Bluffton president James Harder told the Associated
Press earlier in the week in a telephone interview. "I think it's
the right thing to do."
According to the AP, there was a festive pregame atmosphere, yet
there were reminders of the tragedy. Five white crosses hung on the
chain-link fence next to the visitors' dugout, and banners with the
victims' uniform numbers hung on the outfield fence. David Betts,
Scott Harmon, Cody Holp and Tyler Williams all died when the team
bus overturned on a highway overpass on March 2; teammate Zach
Arend died a week later. A student coach, Tim Berta, remains
hospitalized.