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Rushford: 'Fun Playing Baseball Again'

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HINESBURG, Vt. - Some might view the start to the season by Storm Rushford as remarkable.

A 3-0 record with a 0.93 ERA while striking out 24 in 15 innings of work are numbers that can bring notoriety on the high school pitching scene.

But upon closer look, there is much more to the story when it comes to the Champlain Valley junior.

Much more.

The impressive beginning to the 2019 season has taken place after not throwing in an organized game for approaching two years.

THE DIAGNOSIS

The date was July 17, 2017 when the diagnosis came - Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Those words are scary in the eyes of anyone let alone a 15-year-old.

“I didn’t know what it meant when doctors said I had leukemia,” Rushford reflected. “My parents kept saying worse-case scenario you’ll be okay. That helped a lot. They’ve been amazing.”

Champlain Valley baseball coach Tim Albertson remembers it well.

“It was noticeable that something was wrong,” Albertson explained. “Prior to the diagnosis he would lose energy and not regain it. I remember during one batting practice he was taking half swings. He couldn’t catch his breath.”

Once the diagnosis came, things were far from easy.

"You're in shock. Your world just crumbles in one second," his mother Julieta Rushford said in a NBC5 article at the time. "It turns into a twilight zone or a nightmare all at once."

Over the next nine months Rushford dealt with health issue after health issue.

There was a stroke. Anaphylactic shock four times. Numerous kidney stones.

“Pneumonia almost put me away,” Rushford noted. “It was really tough.”

Chemotherapy was taking a toll. There was even the thought of never playing baseball again - the game he loves so much.

“It crossed my mind,” Rushford admitted. “Immediately after the diagnosis the thought about not playing was never the case, but when you have a stroke and all the other things … you’re not worried about baseball. You have to take it one step at a time.”

ON THE SIDELINES

The 2018 high school season was difficult watching from the sidelines.

“It was tough being on the bench,” Rushford said.

But the idea of coming back to play did not leave him.

“I had lost a lot of strength in my legs,” Rushford pointed out. “It wasn’t as bad with my arms, but my legs were really, really weak. I did as much running and jogging as I could do. I did light weights and tried to use my legs as much as I could.”

Albertson saw progress being made.

“He was part of the team last spring as much as he could be,” Albertson explained. “Chemo made his mobility harder than expected, but by June he was moving better.”

Rushford was ready to be a complete player again.

BACK ON THE FIELD - TEMPORARILY

“It felt great to finally start playing again,” Rushford remembered feeling when the summer season of 2018 began. “It was amazing to be back on the field.”

But it did not last long.

“I remember it was a gorgeous day, I was feeling so good,” Rushford reflected. “I had worked so hard to get there. But the second game back I broke my thumb and was out for six weeks.”

By then, summer season was coming to an end.

Still working on improving strength, Rushford had to sit out volleyball season during autumn for a second consecutive season.

“In the fall I played a little baseball, but it was non-competitive stuff,” Rushford said. “I was just getting in reps, but that felt really good.”

Workouts continued with hopes of making an impact come spring.

“I did a lot of work over the winter, really working on my legs,” Rushford noted. “I knew the team was going to be good this year but that we were a little short on pitching. I thought I could play a little bit to help out.”

SPRING SEASON

While Rushford had high expectations when it came to making a contribution to the Champlain Valley Union baseball team this season, Albertson was looking forward to his help as well.

“It’s exciting, it’s really been an emotional ride,” the Champlain Valley head coach said. “We took Storm in as a freshman and he was starting to get some time and we were looking forward to what he could bring his sophomore year. Then came the whole journey from being 100 percent healthy to struggling for his life at one point.”

But on April 12, Rushford was back on the field playing varsity baseball for the Redhawks in the second game of the season.

“It was really emotional with my parents there and all,” explained Rushford, who a day prior threw out the first pitch of the season opener. “It felt so good to get out there.”

The 6-2 160-pound right-hander threw five innings of one-hit shutout baseball that day, fanning seven and not walking a batter.

“I hadn’t played in a year-and-a-half so even though I worked hard all winter I didn’t know how good I’d be,” Rushford reflected. “To be able to help out the team meant a lot  What a great feeling. All the hard work paid off.”

Albertson could not have been more pleased.

“It’s exciting to see him perform the way he’s capable,” Albertson said. “Now he can be part of this journey for another two years.”

The veteran coach sees a touch difference in his squad when Rushford is on the mound.

“Our guys will do it for anybody, but when you have a life-long friend out there that’s gone through what he has, you can see a little more focus out of the team,” Albertson admitted. “Nobody wants to let anybody down and will do whatever they can to support the team, but we’re more on our game when he’s out there.”

SUCCESS CONTINUES

Rushford has continued to shine since that first game on the mound. In his second outing, Rushford gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in six innings against Colchester.

“He had a great game,” Albertson said. “He kept the ball down, his fastball and breaking ball were working and so was his change. It all came together that day. He also hit for himself and put the ball in play. It was a fun event to see. You know he’s working so hard.”

Rushford went four innings the next time out, permitting one run and three hits with 10 strikeouts and two free passes.

“The future for him is bright,” Albertson said. “The more you watch him, you see his strength getting better. He’s a good student that’s driven. He continues to be a big part of the program. He’s a quiet leader, but guys look up to him.”

Rushford, who is also expected to eventually see some time at shortstop and DH this season, is enjoying his new ride on the field.

“It just feels good to be out there again,” Rushford said. “To be back in a rhythm, it’s just so much fun. It’s a blast to get out there and play. I really love this.”

It is something that at one time Rushford wondered if he would ever be able to do again.

“I love baseball so much,” Rushford said. “There is only three months of summer in Vermont, but when I was younger me and my dad would go out and play catch in the snow. We’d play catch before school and after school, before practice and after practice. Since I was seven-years-old I’ve loved to do this. It’s everything for me.”

BRIGHT FUTURE

The pitching improvement has Rushford looking ahead to the possibility of playing baseball after high school.

“I’m ahead of where I was before,” Rushford pointed out. “I was 72 back then (before the diagnosis), now I’m throwing 81. I’ve also worked a lot on my offspeed. I’d love to play after high school, it would be great to play baseball some more. I don’t care where it’s at as long as I get to play.

“I’ll likely do some stuff this summer and fall for exposure,” Rushford continued. “I don’t know where I’m at right now compared to some of the other kids, but once I’m closer to 100 percent I’ll see where I’m at.”

The desire to be better on the field isn’t all that Rushford is battling. He remains in Long Term Maintenance until October of 2020 in his fight to completely recover.

“I take oral chemo (pill) once every day, I do IV (previously in his chest but now in the arm) and chemo every four weeks and every 12 weeks I do a procedure (needle with chemo in spinal column) where I get anesthesia and I’m groggy for a day,” Rushford explained. “It sounds like a lot but it’s way better than before.”

The chance to also play baseball while the health continues to improve just adds to the enjoyment.

As Rushford summed up ...

“It’s just been a lot of fun playing baseball again.”.