Prep baseball player still on the road to recovery

It's a long walk from the parking lot to the baseball diamond at American River College.

But Luke Duval, co-captain of Pleasant Grove High School's baseball team, is looking forward to every step when the Eagles play Fairfield at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I-North playoffs.

Last year, Pleasant Grove went to the playoffs without Duval, its leader and, arguably, its top player. He learned about the Eagles' 2-1 first-round upset win over higher-seeded Franklin from a hospital bed, where he was recovering from a life-threatening brain hemorrhage he suffered a few weeks earlier while working out with the team.

Since being stricken in April 2007, Duval has made huge strides toward recovery. But big challenges remain.

He suffers from arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a cluster of abnormally formed blood vessels in his brain stem. The condition led to an episode similar to a stroke, putting the 6-foot-4 scholar-athlete into intensive care, barely able to move and talk.

He now speaks clearly, is back on his feet and preparing to walk across the Arco Arena stage as part of the Elk Grove school's first graduating class next month.

"What Luke is doing is very challenging and also fairly miraculous," said Pleasant Grove coach Rob Rinaldi. "He initially made such great strides that he shocked the medical professionals working with him.

"His speech is great, and his mind is sharp. It's his body that is not back to where it was. But he's making the most of a tough situation. I'd classify him as extremely inspirational."

Duval talks openly about the ordeal.

"I try to look at this as a big challenge," he said. "I've always been good at challenges, of wanting to take things on. I've always been a physical person, so knowing what I have to do, I've embraced it."

Senior co-captain Nic Duval, the Eagles' speedy center fielder and Luke's twin, said he is not surprised by his brother's progress.

"He's basically had to re-learn everything, how to walk, talk, swallow," Nic said. "But Luke's always been motivated and competitive. He's a fighter, and if anything, this has pushed him even more."

Luke attends most Pleasant Grove games and some practices, but he continues a grueling therapy regimen and won't pitch or swing a bat for some time.

In public, he usually walks with a cane, a concession to numbness in his left side, especially in his foot and hand. He wears corrective lenses to help battle double vision.

Duval continues to influence the Eagles, who have survived an uneven season and earned their second playoff berth in two seasons of varsity competition.

"He's still a leader," Rinaldi said. "When we're meeting as a group, he'll step up and say things. He'll call out the team for sloppy play or a lack of hustle."

Said Duval: "I love being in the dugout with my teammates."

Nic Duval, the team's top hitter among starters and its leading base stealer, said emotions aren't running as high as they did during last season's playoffs – the Eagles went 1-2 – when Luke was hospitalized.

"That was pretty heavy," Nic said. "We don't go into every game now thinking we've got to (win) for Luke. I'm sure he still inspires a lot of guys, but more as a person, not just as a baseball player."

Nic has enjoyed his on-field success, but he understands how tough it can be on his brother.

"I'm sure he's happy for me, but at the same time, it's bittersweet for him because he wants to be out there helping the team," Nic said.

A recent senior night ceremony drove home the point to Luke that his high school playing career is over.

"It's hard not being able to participate," he said.

Nic plans to attend Cosumnes River College in the fall and play baseball for the Hawks. Luke, though, will be in Tian Jin, China, undergoing a 90-day program of intensive physical therapy, including massage and acupuncture, a treatment he says he underwent in the Bay Area and one that produced noticeable benefits.

"It's primarily a stroke rehabilitation hospital, and it's one of the best in the eastern part of the world," Luke said. "Instead of once a week, I'll be getting acupuncture twice a day for 90 days, plus all the other therapy."

In deference to Luke, his parents, Tom and Susan, and Nic refrain from talking about baseball too much around the house. But Nic said he won't be surprised if his brother someday plays again.

"That's one of his goals," Nic said. "Whether it's college baseball or men's (adult league) baseball."

Luke agrees it has crossed his mind.

"For sure, certainly later on down the road," he said. "But I don't want to get ahead of myself by talking about that stuff. Right now I'm focusing on finishing school and getting to where I can walk a lot better – those type of goals."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Bill Paterson, (916) 326-5506.