Olympian file photo
Manny Davila bounced back from his serious eye injury and hopes to play baseball again.

Davila still holds on to baseball dreams

One year after accident, he wants to return to baseball field

GAIL WOOD THE OLYMPIAN

LACEY -- Dreams still haunt Manny Davila.

A year ago today, a foul tip off Davila's bat struck him in the face during River Ridge High School's second baseball game of the season. The ball destroyed the retina and left Davila blind in his right eye.

"It seems like a minute ago it happened," Davila said. "I remember that whole day. Everything. I still dream about it. I still have dreams of the doctor telling me I'd never see again."

But Davila still dreams of playing baseball again. Now a freshman at Saint Martin's College, he plans to play in a men's summer league in Bremerton, then try out for the Saint Martin's baseball team next fall.

"I'm more drawn to baseball now than ever," Davila said. "I feel the game was made for me. I don't want to quit."

Last fall, Davila tried out two days for the Saint Martin's team, but just six months removed from his injury he realized he wasn't ready.

For the past month, he has been practicing, catching ground balls hit by his father, Julio, and taking batting practice at batting cages in Auburn. He runs every day.

"Now, he's more ready," Julio said. "He tells me not to hit the ball easy. He dives for grounders. Before, he backed up a little. He was scared for a while. He's more confident now."

Just weeks after his injury, Davila rejoined his high school team, grounding out to third base in his first game back, an extra-inning loss to Timberline. He admits he was scared that day.

"Honestly, I'm proud of what I did," Davila said. "I had to come back and play. I was a senior. I thought it might be my last chance ever to play. But I was terrified. I was shaking that day."

Over the summer Davila played five games for an all-star team in Panama, going 2-for-15 at the plate. It wasn't a good experience. He struck out eight times and dropped three catchable fly balls.

"When I dropped the first fly ball, I just started crying," Davila said. "Right on the field. I couldn't stop."

Opposing players taunted Davila when he was at the plate.

"One of my coaches told me in my hotel room that I should maybe quit," Davila said. "I thought he was maybe right. But I don't want to quit."

Davila is encouraged by his recent play. He is adjusting to having one eye.

"Now, when I wake up in the morning I don't notice anything different," he said. "It's like another day. I don't notice anything different when I'm walking down the street. It's only when I look in the mirror that I notice."

Saint Martin's coach Joe Dominiak remembers Davila's brief attempt to make the team last fall.

"He was very rusty," Dominiak said. "You could tell he was still adjusting. But it's hard to get an evaluation after just one or two practices. He had an arm that works. You could tell he's a hard worker."

Dominiak thought it might be easier if Davila played at a junior college first, but Davila, who is considering majoring in engineering, wants to stay at Saint Martin's.

Dominiak said he'll give the outfielder a chance this fall.

"I'm still trying new techniques, new ways," Davila said. "I'm still gaining experience. I wasn't competing with those college people before. I feel like I'm more skilled now, like I used to be. I know I still need more practice. I just want to play baseball."

Gail Wood covers sports for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5432 or gwood@olympia.gannett.com.

For more local news go to the Prep Sports section.

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