The twice-a-day drive on Highway 26 for Bill Gavora summons the painful reminder. He passes by the Grapevine baseball field and sees the retired No. 17 hanging on the outfield wall.
It’s been nearly six years since Gavora and his wife, Jill, lost their son Chris to a tragic baseball accident. On Feb. 22, 2007, Gavora was struck by a batted ball in a batting cage. Chris died two days later.“I do have to look when I don’t want to," Bill Gavora said.Scholarships have been created in Chris’ memory. The stories have been written about how Gavora became an organ donor and that his selfless gift saved the lives of others.The latest tribute to him and to the late Mike Coolbaugh occurred on Jan. 26 when the Grapevine High School dedicated its new hitting facility. It sits in right field corner at the complex. Coolbaugh is the late brother of Rangers hitting instructor Scott Coolbaugh. Mike was also killed in 2007 by a batted ball. The facility is dedicated in each man’s honor.Diamond Dreams foundation led the way for this building to go up during the fall and ready for the 2013 high school baseball season. In an uncertain economy, perseverance made this project possible. Fundraisers and bond money secured from the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District put it over the top.The 50x90 structure was developed to ensure player safety for both the baseball and softball teams. There is a wrap-around, a chain link fence and wind screens. While covered, it is not heated or cooled.“It was obviously a pretty emotional endeavor," said Grapevine coach Tim McCune, who is about to begin his 24th season later this month. “Everybody is so happy about it. There is a sense of fulfillment. But it doesn’t make up for what happened to such a great young man."The facility promotes the games of baseball and softball. The memorials around the ballpark and facility serve as reminders that loss created the greater good.To be frank, this facility was built for the wrong reasons. By “wrong,” I mean you would have hoped that tragedies wouldn’t need to be the inspiration. But sometimes, that’s the only reason why they are.There’s no way the bricks and steel can come close to restoring the most precious gift on earth. Bill, who retired from the Army and moved his family to Grapevine six months before Chris’ death, has found the wholesomeness and bond from friends and extended family to be unparalleled.By this time, Chris should have been out of college or preparing to be attend graduate school, or talking about the new job he just got or talking to his parents about the girl he met.But it’s not. This is just not within what’s supposed to be the natural order of things.Prayer, perseverance and friendship serve to ease the pain of the unexplainable void. When love is so deep, the pain never subsides. It’s always there. You just learn to live with it and ask that the next day be a little better than the previous day.“You move the best way you can," Bill said. “Personally, I get satisfaction that something good came from this. [The dedication] shows that these men were loved and the community has not forgotten."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
