Extra Effort: Injury Inspired Tremont Senior

WMBD/WYZZ-TV - TREMONT, Ill. -- No one can ever question Robert Bong's effort on the baseball diamond.

At the beginning of this baseball season, he put his body on the line to catch a fly ball.

"We're in a tight game, and the ball goes down the right field line," said Tremont baseball coach Adam Pagett. "There goes Robert after it."

"Starting running towards it," recalled Bong, the Turk's right fielder. "Knowing that I had to get it no matter what."

But the outfield fence was quickly approaching.

"Ball coming down, so I dove for it," aid Bong. "Dove right into the pole."

The senior missed a few games after hitting the pole but said it was worth it. He wanted teammates to see his extra effort.

"He'll run through a fence to catch a fly ball, which is exactly what he did," said Tremont pitcher Blake Uhlman. "He does whatever he can and the best he can at everything."

Added Pagett: "Good as a spring sport coach to have guys to come in that have been in tough situations and been in these when faced with adversity."

But Bong doesn't see his injuries as adversity. He sees them as what made his passion come into focus.

"Being in the weight room and actually being able to pass on that information to other people having the same problems. Ever since then, I wanted to do that," said Bong. "I'm going to Eureka college to be an athletic trainer. I love doing it."