Hanna City Teen Back on Diamond

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druidhills2005
August 28, 2009

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Joshua Ruchotzke has goals for the next six months. "Work out all winter, go to spring and play high school baseball," said the Farmington High School freshman. "Then hopefully play travel ball ag...

Joshua Ruchotzke has goals for the next six months.

"Work out all winter, go to spring and play high school baseball," said the Farmington High School freshman. "Then hopefully play travel ball again next summer."

Looking at the 15-year-old now, you'd have little idea he lost both legs below his knees and most fingers on his hands after a bout with a Strep A infection last January.

"The doctors said it would take him two if not three months to learn how to walk. But he did it in a week," said his mother Angi Ruchotzke. "He continues to astound people with everything he's gone through."

What he's gone through includes multiple surgeries and the fitting of special prosthetic legs that allow him to play sports. Rawlings Sporting Goods even made a special glove for him so he could return to the baseball field this spring.

"It was different, it was new. I was nervous and I didn't know what to expect. I had to adapt a little bit," said Ruchotzke, who helped his Hitmen team make it to the national tournament in Colorado Springs this summer.

Ruchotzke admits he's still learning how to function with his new body. But he finds comfort in playing his favorite sport.

"It was a lot of fun getting back out there, hanging with my friends again, said Ruchotzke, who moved from catcher to second base this season.

Ruchotzke says he will give up basketball this winter in order to concentrate on improving his baseball skills in preparation for high school tryouts next spring.

"For him to be able to do something that he enjoys so much and to be able to perform it so well," said Angi Ruchotzke "Was just incredible."

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