Lucas Nicholson may have lost his house in last week's tornado, but like many others from Mayflower and Vilonia he has not lost his community spirit.
In front of a Dickey-Stephens Park crowd announced at 8,014 -- the majority of whom were clad in Vilonia Eagles red or Mayflower Eagles purple -- the two Faulkner County teams played Tuesday to raise donations for their communities that were devastated by an EF4 tornado that cut through central Arkansas on April 27.
More than 3,000 homes were damaged and 16 Arkansans lost their lives in a storm that has been rated as the strongest in the state since 1968.
"To be able to play here after all that's happen, it means a lot to us," said Nicholson, who was an all-conference outfielder for Vilonia last season. "For the Travelers to do this for us, it's so amazing."
The game not only drew support from the two Faulkner County communities, it also captured the attention of some of the state's most-recognized dignitaries. Vilonia Mayor James Firestone and Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland threw out the first pitches. Gov. Mike Beebe played a role in the opening ceremonies, and University of Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema and basketball coach Mike Anderson talked to both teams before the game.
Fans were admitted free with donations accepted at the gate. High school teams from Lonoke, Fountain Lake and Bauxite, among others, attended the game to lend support to the two communities. There was lighthearted atmosphere as the teams shook hands before and after the game. Choirs from both schools combined to sing the national anthem, and no mocking remarks toward any umpire could be heard.
Played under cloudless skies in a crisp 1 hour and 25 minutes, Vilonia (16-6) earned a 3-0 victory over Mayflower. Four Vilonia pitchers combined on a four-hitter, and third baseman Bradley Taylor's two-run single in the sixth inning gave the Vilonia a cushion that all but sealed the game.
"This was exciting," said Vilonia designated hitter Jake Goodson, whose line drive to the right-center field gap in the first inning gave his team a 1-0 lead. "You don't get to play on a major league-sized park very often. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people."
"I was nervous. The whole team was nervous," said Mayflower shortstop Jordan Burns, who singled and started two double plays defensively. "It was loud. You really couldn't hear the coach. We had to rely on hand signals.
"I'm used to playing in front a hundred people, not 8,000."
For Nicholson, Tuesday's game was a way to take his mind off the tragedy.
Nicholson, 17, had spent the afternoon April 27 playing pickup basketball with friends in Conway before returning to his home in the Parkwood Meadow subdivision in Vilonia.
"I had no clue the storm was coming," Nicholson said. "It looked bad outside, but I didn't know it was going to be that bad."
When Nicholson and his family finally realized they needed to seek cover in a storm shelter, which was located a half-mile away, it was too late to leave their house.
"We looked out our back door and we saw the storm coming," Nicholson said. "We knew then it was too late. We went to the center part of our [house]. We got under our couch, prayed to God and told each other 'we love you.' I was getting prepared to meet my maker."
Nicholson said it took only seconds for the tornado to pass, but it took Nicholson's house and the majority of the subdivision with it.
Nicholson's father, Jeremy Lee Nicholson, suffered two broken ribs and a gash in his side. Lucas said it took more than two hours before his father received medical attention. Jeremy Lee Nicholson remained in the intensive care unit at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock for more than a week, and he remains hospitalized. Lucas' mother, Clarissa, was also injured in the storm.
"Lucas doesn't say a whole lot," Vilonia Coach Brad Wallace said. "He's very soft-spoken, but he works hard and gives the rest of our guys a chance to see him in a different light. We've rallied around him."
So did 8,000 others Tuesday.
Sports on 05/07/2014