Playing sports, it’s almost inevitable that an athlete will get dinged up at some point—the hope is that it will be as minimal as possible.
Unfortunately, though, sometimes the injury is serious enough to knock the player out for a while and may even involve surgery, rehab and recovery.
To return to the playing fields after such a harrowing ordeal takes determination, courage and hard work and we honor those who have done so in our “Injury Recovery Series.”
Click HERE to read our latest in the series—the incredible comeback by Florida State commit Ashtyn Danley!
Today we hear from a Top 40-ranked 2023 grad, Paige Vickery, who hails from Commerce, Georgia, and suffered a serious knee injury in 2018 but has worked hard to come back stronger, faster and more determined to take her game to the next level.
The 5-foot-7 pitcher/infielder has helped lead her Commerce High team to a 3rd place at state in 2019 and 2nd place last year.
Playing for Tennessee Mojo – Vickery, Paige has shined at the club level as well with a .509 season average, a team-leading 56 RBIs and 23 doubles. To help the team to a 42-10-3 mark up till now.
The incoming junior has also had a great showing in Colorado this week at Triple Crown Nationals where she started off the week going 12-for-14 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and a smoking .857 batting average.
Paige also made the All-Star game at shortstop and went 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs and was selected to play in the All-American game where she went 1-for-2.
Below is Paige’s story of her comeback from not one, but two knee injuries and what it took physically, mentally and emotionally to get to where she is today…. if you have a story of coming back from injury, write us at info@extrainningsoftball.com.
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Injury #1
August 25, 2018, is when it happened the first time.
While going for a fly ball, my cleat got hung in the grass and I went down to the ground with a dislocation of my knee.
I had no idea the extent of my injury—all I knew was when I looked up my dad was standing there with my coach—and I knew it was not good.
She looked at my dad and said, “It’s bad.”
Right then all I thought was: “Will I be able to play the game I love again? And when?”
While in the ambulance, there were several things going through my head all at once like, “Oh Lordy, that’s a big needle!” “Wow, my knee hurts,” “Please don’t touch my knee,” and so on.
Once I was at the hospital, the doctor came in and took me for x-rays. I was on so much medicine that now looking back it is very hard to remember even being in the hospital.
I do remember the doctor coming in and telling me I didn’t need surgery, but I needed time to get stronger without softball or anything. He told me it would take six months.
Grateful that I didn’t need surgery, it was still scary knowing it’d take half a year to get to where I was. My mindset for the next six months was not the best because I was scared that I would not be able to do so.
The one thing that kept me going through my injury was my faith and the love that my family and teammates had for me. I knew that I could be there for my team just like they were there for me while I was not able to play.
My faith, though, is what helped me the most. I am a Christian and I know that things happen for a reason. My knee injury helped me mentally and physically and maybe that was God’s plan. I know that, with faith in the Lord, that he would help me through this.
After the six months were up, we were in the middle of our Spring 2019 season. The first time playing on it, I was very hesitant. I was scared to turn the wrong way or even plant because that is how it started in the first place.
As time went on, I started getting more comfortable with it. I kept thinking to myself, “Paige you went through six months of physical therapy. God is looking out for you. Let go and do your thing!”
So, that is what I did.
I gave it 110 percent the rest of the travel ball year. Our last tournament was in Colorado, where I got to pitch for the first time since my injury. I did well, better than I thought I would.
As school ball came around, I felt great and had a successful freshman year on varsity. I hit my first ever grand slam, which helped earn my way to the cleanup spot. We made it to the Sweet Sixteen where I hit a three-run home run to help my team advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.
*** Scroll down to read more about Paige’s mindset in facing surgery and rehab…
