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Cardinals’ Hicks overcomes accident to star at Bridge City Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader BRIDGE CITY — Some stories are just worth noting. There are instances in the sports world when sports become obsolete and do not seem to matter. Once the situation is clear, sports returns and life for those involved returns to normal. On Jan. 14, 2004, Bridge City Cardinals freshman Matt Hicks lived through of those instances. Hicks, then in the sixth grade, was riding his bike back on FM 408, gome home from a friend’s house. While turning onto Palm Ridge, Hicks was struck by a car, sending him flying over the car and into a ditch across the street. Hicks’ leg was trapped between the car’s bumper and his bike and he was covered in mud. Hicks’ father, Tom, heard the commotion from his couch. “I thought it was the young kids burning their tires,†Tom Hicks said. “Then the door bell rang. You know how they say women have a mother’s intuition? I had a dad’s intuition. I ran out there and found him in the ditch. He was covered in mud because the ditches were sloppy. All I could see was the white of his eyes and he was crying.†Hicks was taken to Christus St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur and was under the care of Dr. Jack Johnston. Johnston decided Hicks needed to be taken to Houston but both Children’s Hospital and Hermann Memorial were booked. Hicks was sent to Hermann the next day and spent two weeks there where he underwent a skin graph, taking muscle from his abdomen to replace the ones damaged in his leg. For the next three months Hicks was home-schooled and moved around in a wheelchair. He went back to school for the last six weeks but six months after the first surgery, the wound was not healing properly. Hicks revisited Johnston who sent him to Dr. Mart Brinker in Houston in August 2004. This time Hicks had his leg rebroken and had a bone graph done by taking bone from his hip. Also inserted was a 12-inch plate and 15 screws to hold his leg together. The plate and screws are stronger than a normal cast. On Dec. 14, 2004, Hicks was finally cleared of all the injuries. With the clearance came Hicks’ love and dedication to the game of baseball. He was not ready to give up his dream of playing. “I wanted to get back so bad,†said Hicks, who missed his 12-year-old baseball season. “I never felt like I would not play again. All I wanted to do was get better than I was before.†Even after the successes Hicks has had over the last few years, his 12-year-old season is something he and his father still talk about. “He was really into that year’s all-stars,†Tom Hicks said. “That was basically his senior year in little league. Missing that year still hurts us both and we still talk about what could have been.†Hicks started playing select teams with Sam Moore and in the pony leagues with Joey Encalade when he was 13 and 14. Hicks was part of the pony team that was one win away from the Pony World Series. One game during the run Hicks was simply perfect, literally. He threw a perfect game against Twin County Sour Lake. The game, which lasted five innings, is still simple to re-write. The first batter to face Hicks was out on a line drive to second, Hicks struck out the next 13 batters and the last out came on a dribbler to third. After the game Encalade talked to Hicks and was amazed by what he said. “He told someone, ‘I did fine,’†Encalade said. “He is never going to blow his own horn. The good thing is there is a lot of people who will do that for him.†Encalade made the trip to the hospital to see Hicks after the accident. “I got the call and we immediately went up there,†Encalade said. “Our prayers were always with him and his family. My wife was able to go see him but I could not go in the room and see him like that. “When something like that happens of course you think of his baseball career but that is wrong to do. He is still not 100 percent and I am not sure he ever will be. I can say this, his 5 percent is better than most people’s 100 percent.†Moore, a former head coach at Bridge City and now runs the baseball clinic The Zone, first saw Hicks play when Hicks was 9 years old and has been impressed with him as a person and ball player ever since. “I tell you this, I want my kid to be just like Matt Hicks,†Moore said. “After the car accident and coming back, it is a tell-tale sign of his perseverance and his desire to play the game of baseball. He is excellent the way he is and I have seen a ton of kids. He has the perfect attitude and you cannot teach that. Matt has that desire to achieve.†Moore has also seen the potential Hicks has on the baseball diamond where he is now the starting shortstop for the Cardinals. “It is very hard for a freshman to start at shortstop for Bridge City,†Moore said. “It all falls back on his desire to achieve. He makes up his lost speed by his smartness. He knows better than anyone where to position himself by the weakness or strength of the batter. “That is definitely uncommon for a freshman; it is a diamond in the rough. Kids just don’t do that at his age. Here is a true story about Matt. On my select team our first game was in Lufkin and he was not on the starting line up. He was on the bench and their first batter got on base. I’m calling out pitching signs and Matt taps me on the shoulder. He started pointing out the lead the runner was taking and how he was leaning and crossing over. Sure enough we threw over and got the guy out. I looked at my assistant and told him ‘This kid is going to be special.’’’ Now that special player is on Billy Bryant’s squad, a team that has reached the state tournament two years in a row and has not lost a district contest in 36 games. “Matt has been a very important part of this team,†Bryant said. “He can do so many things. He is a solid shortstop and has pitched real well. He is just one of those kids who never complains. I am sure it has been a long struggle for him to recover like he has. It shows the strength he has as a person and his family. For the people that know him, it shows his perseverance and his willingness to work hard.†While recovering, Hicks stayed busy with baseball and never really stopped practicing. Only this practice was coming from a wheelchair. Tom Hicks would throw the ball to his son while he sat in a wheelchair and even threw one hoppers to him. “Sam always told me to keep working,†Hicks said. “I always hoped and knew getting back would happen. Now I figure if I can do things from a wheelchair, I can do it anywhere.†Bryant hopes Hicks’ story will show a younger generation that hard work really does pay off. “It should be an inspiration,†Bryant said. “The challenge for him now is to never be satisfied. He will work to get better each year and I am sure he will continue to do that.†Of course Hicks’ No. 1 fan is his father Tom who has seen his son play in three different leagues at one time. “I remembering leaving one game in Bridge City and heading to Groves to play in another,†Tom said. “This is how dedicated he is. We got tickets to the World Series when the Astros played the Chicago White Sox and he was worried because he would not be able to work with Sam Moore. That is how dedicated he is. “Of course he will make mistakes but his mind is so in tune when he is on the field. It is amazing how very little mistakes he makes while playing ball.†By the way, Hicks is also the highest ranked boy academically in his class at Bridge City High School. “When he moved up to the high school I told everyone that shortstops need to find another stop in the field to play,†Encalade said. “He will be the starting shortstop for four years. He already knows more about baseball than I will ever know. When he was 13, he was as good as anyone. Then I coached him one more year when he was 14 and he was by far the best. He is just phenomenal. If I have to have someone when the game is on the line, that is who I want.†Hicks knows there is still work to do in his high school career and you can bet he will be found many hours on the field doing just that, working on his game. “This year has been a lot of fun so far,†Hicks said. “I hope we keep it up. I think we have a chance of getting better.â€

I got ya Dave! Yeah, HJ fans may talk smack, but now they have the right to. That's a possibility again next year, too. Silsbee & HJ will definately be the top 2 in district. WHO WANTS IT MORE?

Ha, Dave, I think you have had your fair share of trash talk, now these guys are just having their fun. We'll show them fun once district starts back up again next season, tho.

THE JV TEAM THIS YEAR IS WAY BETTER THAN LAST BECAUSE THE FRESHMAN TEAM BEAT THE JV LAST YEAR AND ALL THOSE FRESHMAN ARE SOPHOMORES NOW AND THOSE SOPHOMORES ARE JUNIORS.... YALL DIDNT TALK ANY SMACK TO US BY OUR DUGOUT THEN SO I DONT SEE WHY YOU ARE NOW???

I DONT LIEK TO TALK SMACK BUT IM SAYING YALL HAVE NO CHANCE AND WELL PROVE IT ON THE FIELD NOT BEHING THE COMPUER SCREEN....

its always fun to talk to the opposing players and see the looks on their faces when i say "yea #15 is a freshman" hes got all the tools.

Even so Mr legit scorekeeper, 3 walks against LCM, no walks against Nederland, no errors he's still at 4for5 with stated rbi's, runs scored, and stolen bases. Can't take that away. I'm through Mr legit and all you haters, just go and talk to and watch this kid. Enough said, I'll focus elsewhere so you can downgrade them. You still have my respect though. ;D

Sorry to tell you, I am not Kelvin Thomas and u need the life. No lies, check his stats. You all need to get facts, just because this kid is at Central, u figure that they don't have any talent. This kid is an all around baseball player and I am an Adult so talk to me as an adult. I am not a kid. If you were smart I would get facts before I stick my foot in my mouth. At least you know your ABC'S.

Probably was your kid that put him on base 3times and check up on keeping your stats. This kid went 3for4 against lcm and 4for4 against Nederland. talk to your pitcher about that. Must have been Nederland paper you looked at because no stats listed in Beaumont and come to think of that posting lcm is overrated comes to mind with fans like you in question. Dont hate on this kid, give him his props. put him on base and he scores. Check it out. you got the win but only for Central's errors. you must have been stratching your head went they did start scoring. you all that good they should not have scored 6 runs like they did. Come to think of it what happen in Port Neches.

Just talking about the baseball program. They talk big, but still manage to lose games.

If Gabe Pruitt (different spelling but hey!) scores over 20 and USC wins, nobody talk to me for weeks! Ill have to be locked up in a crazy house

That's what I'm talkin bout 95, that's something more than wins and losses... it's competing at a very high level and freakin fun as heck to watch... talk about some football... I miss the Ned/Wos rivalry and Wos in 4A period!!!

that was a great post! 8) talk about some good football every friday night. no disrespect to 3A they have some really tough teams. i just miss the atmosphere of playing 4A teams every week. just for example when we would play nederland and png the crowds would be in excess of 10,000 fans. talk about loud!!!

Glad to see someoone from Silsbee talk in a respectful way instead of trashing another school or promoting themselves!!!!!! I agree with Aggiesarewe, in my opinion nobody thought that HJ would have had the year that they had. NOBODY!!!!! You must play the games!!!!!! I am already looking forward to high school hoop season next year.

i never said vidor wasnt good......they are a great baseball team I was just talking about how unsportsmanlike their catcher acted......and don't talk about ryan ellis blowing it in the 9th because he went 11 innings a couple of weeks ago.......and he has never pitched before this year......

THE GAMES BEEN PLAYED LETS TALK

Stupid program? That's funny you would say that, since you have TRIED to be a part of this "stupid program" for the last two years and you quit this year. The question is why did you quit? Let me guess, the coaches don't like you and you were going to play on one of the lower level teams instead of the varstiy. Yeah, I know, I'm right. Hey Kyle, If you want to talk trash about the Silsbee Baseball Program and Coach Trawhon, that's your right, but you could at least hide your email address so people wouldn't know who you are.

unless jasper loses... : ;D need to play the games first, then talk.

Are you serious, we've played 4A teams and beat them, and we also play STATE finalist Sulfur "5A" and beat them once and lost to them once. I would love to see 3A BC play 5A Westbrook and shut up the smack talk.....5A doesn't mean your better just that you have more kids......I would still take BC in the matchup though...Probably 14-3 in 5 innings.....

and nobody should talk about jasper players trashtalking before you acknowledge how bad of a trashtalker the catcher for vidor is and he can't even back it up!!!!!at least ryan ellis can back it up when he trash talks

EAST CHAMBERS, BUNA, DEWEYVILLE!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S ALL TALK JUST TALK UNTIL THESE TEAMS ARE BEAT OUT OF A PLAYOFF SPOT! These are the best 3 teams in that district!

quit all that crying!! Yalls second baseman always run his mouth..the old saying goes "aint no fun when the rabbits got the gun". Its ok to talk trash to teams when yall are winning, but the first time you get beat you come on here crying. From the words of yalls own pitcher " Go sit down"!!! "Better luck next time"...

I don't know if it is right or wrong but I think it is silly and stupid to say that aluminum bats do not hit the ball harder and faster than wood. The reasoning used? There is no scientific proof. Right.... and cigarettes don't cause cancer either. Just because MIT has yet to study baseball bats doesn't negate what is going on. Let's see, a guy buys his 11 year old kid a baseball bat for $250 because it hits the same way as wood. Talk about things that make you go hmmmmmm!!

They use to have a game like this, I do no know if they have it anymore!!! Maybe if we talk about it enough we can get it brought back.

Your welcome. Yea they didn't want to talk.