Sherry makes first appearance since accident March 8

Three weeks after being hit by a car and suffering serious injuries, Adam Sherry was back in the Southeast Missouri State University dugout.

While the senior pitcher wasn't in uniform Saturday -- he will miss the entire season -- he did join his teammates for the first time since that near-fatal accident March 8 in Hattiesburg, Miss.

"I feel great, and it's great to be here with all the guys," Sherry said.

Sherry, a Ste. Genevieve High School graduate, was with the Indians for a weekend series at Southern Mississippi when the accident occurred.

Following the second game of the series, Sherry and teammates were crossing a street in front of the team's hotel on Saturday night when he was struck by an automobile at about 50 mph.

Nobody is quite sure exactly what happened -- no charges were filed against the driver -- but Sherry suffered a severely broken leg and a fractured skull. He had three surgeries on the leg and one head surgery at the Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he remained until returning home Monday.

Sherry remembers little of the accident, which he says is a blessing.

"I don't remember crossing the street, which is good," he said.

In an emotional ceremony prior to Southeast's doubleheader with Missouri Valley College, Sherry took the mound at Capaha Field in a wheelchair and threw out the first pitch. He spent the rest of the chilly afternoon in the dugout.

"I'm on crutches, but I didn't want to hobble out there so I used the wheelchair," Sherry said.

Sherry, who expects to fully recover following rehabilitation, said he was overwhelmed by the support he received during his stay in the hospital.

"I've got a basket at home with probably 60 or 70 cards and letters," he said. "People I didn't even know sent me cards. It meant so much to me."

The Indians were more than pleased to have their fallen teammate back with them.

"You don't know how glad I was, and the whole team was, to see him here," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "It's just super to see him doing so well."

Added shortstop Zach Borowiak following Southeast's doubleheader sweep, "It's great to have Adam out here. It was his day today."