CFCA player returns to diamond after health scare -- Observer Preps

OCOEE Justin Milroy had been plenty excited about playing baseball for the first time in four years.

Milroy, a home-schooled student who plays his varsity athletics at Central Florida Christian Academy in Ocoee, already had been playing football and basketball for the Eagles along with his twin brother, Jared.

The Milroy brothers decided to give baseball a go this year, and Justin had found that he was really liking his new teammates. His coaches — Larry and Taylor Oldham — also made him feel welcome even though he had not played for a few years.

So, after the basketball team made a run in the state playoffs that did not end until Feb. 24, Milroy joined the team for his first game on Feb. 27 against City of Life Christian Academy — a 7-6 victory for the Eagles.

It was an enjoyable first game, but then the next day, Milroy developed a pain in his stomach that rendered him nearly immobile and that caused repeated vomiting. Milroy had appendicitis and was taken to the hospital that evening, where he had surgery at around 11 p.m. 

Although he ultimately recovered, the surgery required him to miss two weeks of action early in the season.

“It was disappointing coming into baseball, having a game and enjoying it, and then letting myself and the team down by not being available for two weeks,” Justin Milroy said.

It was a scary evening for the Milroy family. But prior experience with appendicitis meant the family could anticipate how things would progress. Jared Milroy had his appendix rupture two years ago and other family members had had it happen, as well.

“Because his twin brother had had the same procedure done, they were expecting this may happen to him,” head coach Larry Oldham said. “So, as soon as he had this pain, they got him right into the hospital.”

In the meantime, Oldham and the team did their best to lift up their teammate while he was recovering.

“The Milroy boys are so determined and they love to contribute in every way,” Oldham said. “It’s just in their genetic code that they’re hard workers, and they’ve been raised extremely well. We just encouraged him and as soon as he could swing a bat and the doctor said he was cleared we got him out there and gave him some extra batting practice.”

Until then, Milroy leaned on his family and his Christian faith to keep perspective.

“I remembered that ‘Well, at least I’m able to play,’” Milroy said. “I was grateful because I knew I was going to be able to get back into it.”

Milroy returned March 27 against Covenant Christian and — to the surprise of many — went 3-for-3 for the Eagles that day in a victory.

“It was most impressive for him to just come back out of the hospital and just hit that ball,” Oldham said.

Happy to be back in left field and out of the house, Milroy said he is enjoying his return to the baseball diamond.

“This has been a lot of fun,” Milroy said.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].