On the mend
Clotiaux changes role from outfielder to team supporter
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JAYLON CLOTIAUX, right, is pictured with fellow teammate Travis Reagan in the dugout of a recent Bulldog practice. Clotiaux is in the process of making a full recovery from a head injury suffered two weeks ago.

Jasper senior baseball player Jaylon Clotiaux remembers nothing of the accident that sent him to the hospital in a helicopter, Monday, April 30. He remembers nothing of diving for a foul ball and crashing headfirst into the low brick wall outside the first base line.

He knows nothing of the crowd of teammates, parents and coaches who followed him to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont out of concern for his welfare.

"The first

thing I remember was waking up in the hospital Wednesday morning and asking my mom what happened," Jaylon said. "My head hurt but I didn't know anything about what happened. My mom brought me a mirror so I could see my face. I wanted to get up and get out of there."

He was told it might be difficult to get out of bed and walk, but he was determined.

"They said walking might be difficult and I did feel dizzy,

so I just said, 'Oh, it's fine,' even though I wasn't real steady. I knew I didn't feel right but I didn't want anyone teaching me how to walk. I could talk but the words didn't come out right. I knew we had a game and I just wanted to get out of there and go play ball."

Clotiaux's accident occurred in practice. He is an outfielder, where he plays both left and right field, depending on who is pitching. He says he remembers starting out in left field but nothing after that.

"The last thing I remember, I was in left field and coach hit a ball to me and I got it. I don't remember going to right field at all," he said.

His teammates say they called to him but the wind was blowing and he may not have heard them.

"We were yelling, 'Let it go,'- Coach Mixon, Coach Smith, everyone," first baseman Chantz Pryor said. "I don't think he heard us because the wind was blowing."

Coach Shawn Mixon said it was a typical for Clotiaux to go after the tough plays.

"Earlier in the season he cracked some ribs when he collided with another player," Mixon said. "Jaylon always goes all out. He never does anything half way."

Clotiaux is back in the dugout, but only to wear a helmet and watch his teammates practice. It's difficult, he said, to sit on the sidelines and watch.

"He's out here trying to practice," Robert Shellhammer said. "Look at his tee shirt. It says, Freakin' hard core. Coach Mixon told him to write that on his shirt. It means that he goes all out."

Last week, he introduced a little fun into one of the week's workouts by bringing a King Snake to the dugout.

"I just wanted to mess with coach," he said. "I guess he's afraid of snakes. At first he thought it was fake but when he found out it was real, he started yelling to get it out of there. I don't think he likes snakes."

Jaylon has returned to school and says it is going well, but sometimes he feels tired and sleepy before the day is over. But the best part is the support and well wishes he has gotten from his classmates.

"Everybody is happy to see me and tell me how happy they are that I'm alive," he said. "It feels like they really care about me. I care about them, too."

As the Bulldogs headed into the play-offs, Clotiaux predicted that they would play well.

"When you get into the playoffs, all of the teams are good, but if we play up to our potential, we will be alright," he said. "We have great potential. This is a team with strong leadership. Everyone comes to practice ready to play every day. Nobody complains.

"Coach Mixon does a good job and if we play to our ability, we have a good chance of going to state. The ability is here. I think we will win no matter what. We always find a way."

Clotiaux will be with his team even though he can only sit in the dugout, wearing a helmet.

"Oh, yes, he will go," pitcher Travis Reagan said. "He's Superman."

Sitting in the dugout supporting his teammates is good, but playing is better, Jaylon says.

"I want to be out there real bad."

Despite his injury, the determination to do his best- to make every play is still strong.

"My advice is to go all out. It may be the last ball you catch, so go for it. I got hurt but I would still dive for that ball. I just wish I could remember the helicopter ride. I always wanted to ride in a helicopter."