Patriot Honors Josh Morrison Before Game Against Battlefield

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In a rival game against Battlefield, Patriot High School's baseball team commemorated the loss of former teammate Josh Morrison.

Morrison suffered from injuries sustained in a car accident on Christmas Day; he passed away Jan. 3. The team chose the May 2 home game to honor Morrison and retire his #22 jersey.

"I knew this is what Josh wanted; he loved playing Battlefield. He played with so many of them in travel ball and these guys have played together in the summer," Head Coach Sammy Serrano said. "It was just the right atmosphere to do this...win, lose, or draw. I commend Coach Burkhart and Battlefield for taking part in the festivities and I really appreciate that."

As people filed into the game and packed the bleachers, Morrison's #22 white jersey was framed and placed on an easel on the pitcher's mound for the crowd to see.

"The stands were silent before the game. Personally, I was reminiscing on all the good times Josh and I had together and I imagine everyone else was doing the same," senior Geoffrey Craighead said. "It got very emotional when I saw his mother and sister trying to stay strong while they walked onto the field."

Morrison's mother, father, sister, grandmother, uncle, cousin and girlfriend were presented with his jersey by Serrano and athletic director Brad Qualls.

A clip from a previous Patriot game was played when Morrison hit a home run to clinch the Pioneers position in the Cedar Run District final game.

"Up to bat, #22, Josh Morrison" along with his walk up song boomed over the loud-speaker one last time before his family and girlfriend left the field.

Each of the team members were handed a red, white, and blue wristband with the words "Joshua Michael Morrison, Our angel in the outfield" by Morrison's girlfriend Maddie Slattery.

As the ceremony concluded, the solemn atmosphere turned into one of intense rivalry as Patriot (11-2) and Battlefield (10-1) faced each other.

While Patriot defended the ball well in the first three innings, the Bobcats were able to pick up four runs in the fourth inning off of right-handed pitcher Tyler Eikhoff. Eric Sloper, Patriot's second baseman, hit a single in the sixth inning to bring home third baseman Michael Timpson. Battlefield scored two runs in the seventh inning to end the night off with a 6-1 win. However, the Pioneers never lost sight of the true goal.

"Our guys have had to deal with so much this year since [Josh's] accident happened and they have done a very good job. They are still at the stage in life where they don't know how to cope with the loss of a friend and a teammate but I am so proud of them," Serrano said. "You have to be confident enough in your kids that they will battle, battle, battle, and eventually, they will succeed."

In total, Patriot was able to get four hits off of Battlefield pitcher Nick Wells, College of Charleston commit and pro baseball prospect. Wells ended the night off with nine strikeouts to continue his four win pitching streak.

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