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Air Force baseball reaches out to 12-year-old car crash survivor Kellen McDonald
April 4th, 2011, 2:52 pm · 14 Comments · posted by Frank Schwab
When Air Force baseball coach Maj. Mike Kazlausky heard about the sad tale of the McDonald family, he took his team to visit 12-year-old Kellen McDonald in Salt Lake City.
Kellen McDonald’s father and younger brother were killed last month in a car crash near Durango. Kellen McDonald was flown to Utah and his mother was flown to Albuquerque to undergo surgery for serious burns suffered in the accident.
During a road trip to Utah the final weekend of March, the Falcons went to visit Kellen McDonald, who has been heavily sedated. McDonald played Academy Little League baseball, Kazlausky said. Kazlausky said the team will visit Kellen McDonald again on Wednesday, when it flies to Salt Lake City for a road series against BYU.
“When these kids get married and have their own kids, that’s going to be a lasting impression,” Kazlausky said, referring to his players.
Kazlausky said the team signed a baseball to leave with Kellen McDonald and took pictures with the boy. Kazlausky said when the Falcons left Kellen McDonald’s room, they could hear McDonald’s older sister crying.
“There were tears coming down a majority of our kids’ faces,” Kazlausky said.
Kazlausky said he was also emotional seeing Kellen McDonald, whose body was seriously burned in the crash.
“It makes you hug your wife and kids a little tighter when you go home,” Kazlausky said.
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About this blog …
I'm Frank Schwab, Air Force beat reporter for The Gazette. I've been at the paper since 2003, and covered the Broncos for seven seasons. I covered the University of Wisconsin in the late 1990s, so I'm well versed in running football teams (Ron Dayne) and defensive basketball teams (Dick Bennett). I love to chat on www.twitter.com/GazetteAirForce, and will respond to comments and emails at frank.schwab@gazette.com.
For more coverage, visit The Gazette's Air Force Academy Sports page
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You da man, Kaz!
[...] Story brought to you by Colorado Springs Gazette – News Headlines : Sports [...]
Very encouraging!
[...] the original here: Air Force baseball reaches out to 12-year-old car crash survivor, McDonald This entry was posted in Sports, Uncategorized and tagged sports. Bookmark the permalink. [...]
With Collage sport “stars” being arrested and making the headlines; stories like these are needed. AFA athletes are top notch! Please pass on my prayers and those of many Colorado Springs residents.
With College sport “stars” being arrested and making the headlines; stories like these are needed. AFA athletes are top notch! Please pass on my prayers and those of many Colorado Springs residents.
Coach Kaz is a class act. Great leadership on his part and an excellent lesson for his team.
Coach Kaz is truly an inspirational coach, leader and mentor for all of the Air Force cadets.
Air Force Baseball is on the road to respectability thanks to Coach Kaz and his tremendous leadership! Kaz’s energy and ethic is a breath of fresh air for the Falcon baseball program…both on the field and off…keep up the great work!
Coach Kazlausky, thank you so very much! Kellen’s father was my cousin, and I know your gesture means a lot to him, and to our entire family. You’re an awesome guy!
This program has been transformed for the better overnight under the genuine leadership of this head coach. The actions and performance both on and off the field are exemplary of what could have been and what should have been fixed long ago.
This guy is a winner. Mr Mueh, don’t even hold outside job interviews. Kaz is your man for this job. Sign him up to a long term deal!
The team came today… they were amazing.. Kellen smiled… nodded.. and waved with his left hand when they left…the guys were awesome… and they are giving a shout out to Kellen at the BYU game tomorrow 6pm… Thanks Kaz!!!!!!!!!!!! Kellen’s Aunt Suzi
domino…
Air Force baseball reaches out to 12-year-old car crash survivor Kellen McDonald – Air Force – Colorado Springs Gazette, CO…
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[...]Air Force baseball reaches out to 12-year-old car crash survivor Kellen McDonald – Air Force : Colorado Springs Gazette, CO[...]…