Carson Hawkins, a 16-year-old with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, hit a baseball into the grass for the first time during a game in Stanley.
A security camera captured the hit two weeks ago.
Carson’s mother, Erin Hawkins, explained that her son has lived with physical limitations since birth.
“Carson had a rough delivery. He went 6 minutes without oxygen. He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy,” Erin Hawkins said. She added that “he’s always loved the game of baseball.”
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Hitting the ball required years of practice for Carson. When asked how it felt to swing and miss repeatedly during his early efforts, Carson said, “Terrible.”
Despite the early difficulty, hitting the ball strengthened his dedication to the sport. “It made me love it more,” Carson said. He lives by a clear personal motto: “Don’t give up.”
Freddie Dow, Carson’s baseball coach in Stanley, placed him on two youth league teams. Dow arranged with opposing teams to let Carson lead off the inning three times per game, allowing him to round the bases after each hit.
“I think all kids deserve their moment. Not some,” Dow said. Before his hit into the grass, Carson’s hits had remained on the dirt separating the infield from the outfield.
In addition to playing baseball, Carson plays piano at church. He worked for two years to hit a ball independently and spent six years practicing before driving the ball into the outfield grass.
“I didn’t give up on myself. I kept trying,” Carson said.
Carson has set his next goal on the baseball field. He aims to hit a ball to the outfield fence in Stanley, which stands 205 feet away.