Wounded Warrior Softball Team Set To Play In Washington County
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The word "hero" is often attributed to athletes. But Lou Hayes PONY Field in Washington County will host some true heroes on Saturday afternoon.
The Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport Friday.
The team of veterans has played dozens of games, from California to Kentucky. This is their first visit to Pennsylvania.
Coach David Van Sleet formed this team, funded by donations, following a 32-year career fitting wounded soldiers with prosthetic limbs.
"They've gone through extensive rehabilitation," he said awaiting team members. "And they know their limitations on what they can do, and what they can't do. So, they've become athletes again."
Brian Taylor Urruela, of Tampa, Fla., lost his lower leg when he was hit by two IED's in Baghdad. The veteran knows what it's like to work toward a common goal.
He calls the Warriors "the best team that I've ever been on. These guys are my brothers, and we've all been through kind of the same thing. Some of us worse than others. And we all have a definite brotherhood that's unlike anything else."
Matt Kinsey, of Rockville, Ind., lost a foot when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan. His lengthy rehabilitation gave him a lot of time - too much time - to think.
"I've been an athlete my whole life, " he says. "I was a paratrooper in the Army. My whole life consisted of me running and doing things. I go, 'What am I going to do, man? I'll never play sports again. I'll never do anything."
But that was before Coach Van Sleet invited him to join his softball team. Competing with able-bodied teams, the Warriors win more than they lose. But every time they take the field is a victory.
"I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be back on a ball diamond again, playing again" Kinsey smiles. "It's a dream come true."
For information on Saturday's game, logging on to this website.
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