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Do IT this week: Layering
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 12:00 a.m. EDT, Apr 11, 2009
As the Aeros' closer, Vinnie Pestano knows how to pitch off his adrenaline. He knows that emotions are a part of the game.
Yet nothing could prepare him for Thursday.
That morning the world found out that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others had been killed by an alleged drunk driver in Los Angeles.
The news rippled through all of baseball.
''I had been hearing about the crash all morning,'' Pestano said. ''That whole situation just sucks being a baseball player and having that happen to another baseball player.''
Yet Pestano soon learned that the situation was even closer to him than grieving for a fellow professional baseball player.
Riding in the car with Adenhart was Jon Wilhite. A former teammate of Pestano. A former roommate. And a close, close friend.
''We are real close,'' Pestano said. ''I have known him since I was 16. We played on a bunch of travel ball teams together. I lived with him for two years in college. I played with him for three years [in college].''
It wasn't until Pestano's sister left him a tearful voice mail Thursday that he found out something was wrong. After he listened to the message, he quickly called her back.
''I don't know how to tell you this,'' she told him. ''But I heard Wilhite was in the car with Adenhart.''
Pestano quickly dialed Wilhite's number.
The phone was turned off.
''That was a bad sign,'' he said.
He then called one of Wilhite's roommates.
''He said that he was in the car, but he was the only one who made it out,'' Pestano said. ''Relief came over me and I tried to get ahold of anybody that I could.''
On Wednesday, Pestano and Wilhite had exchanged text messages, Wilhite congratulating Pestano on his move to Double A. By Thursday, Wilhite was in an Irvine hospital clinging to his life.
Pestano soon got in touch with a former teammate who was already at the hospital.
Wilhite had been ''internally decapitated'' Pestano found out. All the ligaments and tendons in the left side of his neck had been severed, Pestano said.
There isn't much more Pestano could do from thousands of miles away. He still had a game to prepare for as well, whether his mind was altogether or not.
''I heard he was going into surgery around the time the game was going to start. So I was worried about that,'' Pestano said. ''He was supposed to have a spinal fusion; it was going to be a delicate operation.''
. Pestano went about his normal game routines adding in a third-inning stop in the clubhouse to check his phone for any updates.
As the eighth inning arrived, the Aeros nursed a 2-1 lead, and Pestano knew he might pitch.
He loosened his legs and got himself ready.
Pestano got the call for the ninth.
''Out on the mound, I was just worried about going out there and getting the job done, but trying to get the job done quickly, so I could leave the field and see how my buddy is doing,'' he said.
Bowie's Ambiorix Concepcion sent a grounder to third baseman Jared Goedert. One out.
Miguel Abreu whiffed on Pestano's offering. Two outs.
Dave Krynzel watched a pitch sail past him. Three outs.
''I was throwing with a lot of emotion out there,'' Pestano said.
It was Pestano's first save in Double A, a reason for celebration on any other night.
Instead, Pestano returned home to a bed he couldn't sleep in. His mind and heart were in California where his friend lay in a hospital, listed in critical condition.
By Friday, Wilhite was doing better. He is responding to voice commands, and doctors believe his body is responding well to the trauma, Pestano said.
''After a little bit better news, it is more manageable,'' Pestano said. ''It's better. I can focus on baseball more and less what is going on over there. It's just always in the back of my mind though.''
With an off day Sunday, Pestano asked Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh and Indians minor-league director of player development Ross Atkins if he could fly home today and be back for the game Monday.
''Whatever he needs to do we will support him,'' Sarbaugh said.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
As the Aeros' closer, Vinnie Pestano knows how to pitch off his adrenaline. He knows that emotions are a part of the game.
Yet nothing could prepare him for Thursday.
That morning the world found out that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others had been killed by an alleged drunk driver in Los Angeles.
The news rippled through all of baseball.
''I had been hearing about the crash all morning,'' Pestano said. ''That whole situation just sucks being a baseball player and having that happen to another baseball player.''
Yet Pestano soon learned that the situation was even closer to him than grieving for a fellow professional baseball player.
Riding in the car with Adenhart was Jon Wilhite. A former teammate of Pestano. A former roommate. And a close, close friend.
''We are real close,'' Pestano said. ''I have known him since I was 16. We played on a bunch of travel ball teams together. I lived with him for two years in college. I played with him for three years [in college].''
It wasn't until Pestano's sister left him a tearful voice mail Thursday that he found out something was wrong. After he listened to the message, he quickly called her back.
''I don't know how to tell you this,'' she told him. ''But I heard Wilhite was in the car with Adenhart.''
Pestano quickly dialed Wilhite's number.
The phone was turned off.
''That was a bad sign,'' he said.
He then called one of Wilhite's roommates.
''He said that he was in the car, but he was the only one who made it out,'' Pestano said. ''Relief came over me and I tried to get ahold of anybody that I could.''
On Wednesday, Pestano and Wilhite had exchanged text messages, Wilhite congratulating Pestano on his move to Double A. By Thursday, Wilhite was in an Irvine hospital clinging to his life.
Pestano soon got in touch with a former teammate who was already at the hospital.
Wilhite had been ''internally decapitated'' Pestano found out. All the ligaments and tendons in the left side of his neck had been severed, Pestano said.
There isn't much more Pestano could do from thousands of miles away. He still had a game to prepare for as well, whether his mind was altogether or not.
''I heard he was going into surgery around the time the game was going to start. So I was worried about that,'' Pestano said. ''He was supposed to have a spinal fusion; it was going to be a delicate operation.''
. Pestano went about his normal game routines adding in a third-inning stop in the clubhouse to check his phone for any updates.
As the eighth inning arrived, the Aeros nursed a 2-1 lead, and Pestano knew he might pitch.
He loosened his legs and got himself ready.
Pestano got the call for the ninth.
''Out on the mound, I was just worried about going out there and getting the job done, but trying to get the job done quickly, so I could leave the field and see how my buddy is doing,'' he said.
Bowie's Ambiorix Concepcion sent a grounder to third baseman Jared Goedert. One out.
Miguel Abreu whiffed on Pestano's offering. Two outs.
Dave Krynzel watched a pitch sail past him. Three outs.
''I was throwing with a lot of emotion out there,'' Pestano said.
It was Pestano's first save in Double A, a reason for celebration on any other night.
Instead, Pestano returned home to a bed he couldn't sleep in. His mind and heart were in California where his friend lay in a hospital, listed in critical condition.
By Friday, Wilhite was doing better. He is responding to voice commands, and doctors believe his body is responding well to the trauma, Pestano said.
''After a little bit better news, it is more manageable,'' Pestano said. ''It's better. I can focus on baseball more and less what is going on over there. It's just always in the back of my mind though.''
With an off day Sunday, Pestano asked Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh and Indians minor-league director of player development Ross Atkins if he could fly home today and be back for the game Monday.
''Whatever he needs to do we will support him,'' Sarbaugh said.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at jfortune@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 12:58 AM, 04/11/2009
=========================
Deadly crash too to home for Aeros closer
=========================
Who proofread this story's headline?
It seems to be missing the word "close".
Canton, OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 04/11/2009
Sad, sad, unnecessary loss of life due to alcohol. . .
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:44 AM, 04/11/2009
Vinnie,
Hopefully Jon can come back from this surgery.
