Page 16 - Providence Christian College Magazine

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providencecc.edu
the Courage to LeaD:
AAroN GooCh ’21
by mark Pomerville
Since he was 12 years old, Aaron Gooch ’21 knew he wanted to play college baseball at a Christian College. Not only did he have a passion for the game, but he also had a love for the Lord and desired to see his relationship with God and his gifts as a baseball player mature and grow.
In August 2017, Gooch enrolled as a freshman at Providence, eager to play for the Sea Beggars baseball team. Although he enjoyed the camaraderie he was forming with his teammates, his stats weren’t as strong as he had hoped. With only 20 at-bats in his first season, he was only chosen in the starting lineup twice and only had one hit to his name for the entire school season.
Even as Gooch experienced these setbacks on the field, he could not have anticipated the testing of faith he would endure toward the end of his freshman season. In Spring 2018, he noticed
an unusual sensation in his left wrist. At first, the discomfort seemed minor, but the irritation turned into a severe soreness that inhibited him from participating in games. Over the summer, he attempted to alleviate the injury with tape and rest, but the pain persisted.
Finally, in Fall 2018, after visiting a physician, Gooch discovered that he had a broken hook
of the hamate in his hand, an injury commonly found in baseball players as a result of the baseball bat knob frequently hitting one’s hand during games and practices. In the end, he would have to undergo surgery to repair the damage. When Gooch finally returned to play
at Providence, he wasn’t the same. He couldn’t hit, and he quickly became discouraged by the prospect of having to turn in his cleats and end his baseball career.
“My dad always said that baseball was a lot like life,” he said. “You will fail a lot. But whether you fail in life or on the field, what are you going to do? How are you going to respond? Are you going to stay down or get back up?”
Gooch was determined to get back on the field. Although he was still wearing a cast, he would show up to the weight room and all the practices with his team. He realized that, if he were to get fully back on his feet, he would need to put even more effort into his recovery. “People look up to me on the team,” said Gooch. “They see me as a leader, and, I knew that, as soon as I got my cast off, I would have to give it my all because they were all watching how I would respond.”
In January 2019, the cast was removed, and
he began to pursue baseball again with an unmatched determination. From hitting in the batting cages in the early morning, to staying up late at night studying swings from professional players, Gooch became known for always being the first to arrive on the field and the last one to leave. He also began a daily practice journal, chronicling all of his improvements and goals he wanted to achieve.
Through prayer and persistence, his game improved over a period of a few months,