Opposing softball teams united by prayer on the field

Opposing softball teams united by prayer on the field
Posted: Sunday, May. 16, 2010
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Asher Harris (18) is one of two West Charlotte softball players who came to assist Lake Norman's Chloe Archer, who broke her leg during a recent game. Harris and Brittany Frizzelle led the teams in prayer for the injured Archer. DIEDRA [email protected]

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Archer


Last month, two high school communities that couldn't be more different became much closer. They have two teenagers to thank.

West Charlotte's softball team, which won only one game this season, was playing at Lake Norman, the eventual I-Meck conference tournament champion.

So it was no surprise the Wildcats were leading 12-0 in the third inning when Lake Norman pitcher and right fielder Chloe Archer came barreling down from first base with designs on stealing second.

Archer, who was hitting .400 with 20 RBIs, was wearing new steel-toed cleats. She had planned to use them in the playoffs and wanted to try them out. West Charlotte attempted to get her out at second, so Archer began to slide. She immediately knew something was wrong.

"My foot got caught in the ground," she said. "My leg snapped. It hurt so bad. It was the worst pain I've ever had in my life."

Archer once broke her left ankle playing basketball, so she knew pain, but she didn't know this kind. She had snapped her fibula and badly strained ligaments in her lower right leg. Sprawled on the field, crying in pain, she never guessed doctors would need to put a 6-inch plate and screws in her leg to hold everything in place for healing. She didn't know her toes would swell and turn purple, or that she wouldn't walk without crutches for five weeks or play softball for three months.

All she knew was it hurt worse than anything she'd ever experienced.

As she lay in pain, teammates gathered around her. Her family left their seats to be next to her. West Charlotte's players returned to their dugout, and watching it all, two Lions players agreed they wanted to do something - anything - to offer comfort to Archer.

Sophomore first baseman Asher Harris and sophomore pitcher Brittany Frizzelle asked West Charlotte coach Norbert Reid if they could go out on the field and say a prayer for Archer, who was lying on her back with a towel under her head, waiting for the ambulance.

Coach Reid approached Archer's mother and asked if it was OK. She said yes. He then waved for his team.

The Lions and Wildcats and umpires and coaches all held hands and formed a circle around Archer.

Harris delivered a prayer.

"Everybody had tears in their eyes," Lake Norman coach Bob Hall said. "It was pretty awesome. It was something I'll never forget."

In both games this season against West Charlotte, Hall said he was struck by how a team that struggled to be competitive could stay so upbeat. He marveled at how they cheered teammates, through good plays and bad, and kept everything positive.

Now, he marveled even more.

West Charlotte has struggled with academic progress, and many of its students receive free school lunches. Lake Norman is one of the area's most affluent high schools.

But those who attended the game said the two communities grew closer because of the prayer.

Reid said his team couldn't get to the bus after the game without receiving hugs, handshakes and well-wishes from Lake Norman parents and fans.

"They said myself and my girls have given a great representation of our school," Reid said.

Archer, who received morphine once emergency personnel arrived, said the prayer is something she'll never forget.

"It was really sweet and it helped," said Archer, who turns 16 today. "I had everybody around holding my hand and we were making jokes and the pain started to go away. It was nice knowing a team that might not be that great still has a lot of inspiration to play harder, and knowing they cared meant a lot.

I asked Archer what she would say to the Lions if she could right now.

"I'd like to tell them," she said, "thank you for everything you've done for me. (Asher) helped me so much. Thank you for bringing God to my mind to let me know He's helping me through the pain."



Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...sing-softball-teams-united.html#ixzz0p0ZZjjxj