Vincent Morales, 17, plays baseball for St. Raymond HS in the Bronx — one of the top programs in the city. When his final season was canceled because of the pandemic, it crushed the Manhattan College-bound senior.
I’ve played baseball since I was 4. Growing up in the Bronx and rooting for the Yankees, it’s always been my favorite sport.
This season was supposed to be a big year for me. My teammates and I have been practicing on our own since January and working hard in the weight room — every day, until we were kicked out because it was closing time.
I wanted to be in the pitching rotation, start at shortstop and help mentor the underclassmen. Our team was young but talented. We had the potential to win a city championship.
We were going to Tampa to play a tournament in March, but it was canceled because of the coronavirus. My teammates and I assumed the season would still happen, but as time went on, it seemed unlikely. On April 30, our coach texted to say the season was officially canceled, and it was a real heartbreaker.
It was emotionally overwhelming to see it in writing.
Initially, I was looking to play at college, but I got an academic scholarship to Manhattan College, where I will study exercise science and intro to physical therapy. This would have been my last time on a team. And not knowing what could have been is very tough.
— As told to Kirsten Fleming
Read more stories about how kids are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
