Myles Toney walked to the mound and threw a strike as the ceremonial first pitch for the opening day of Flossmoor Baseball and Softball on Saturday, April 18. Not bad for a youngster who had to sit out the season last year, and even more impressive considering the reason he had to miss.

Myles suffered a pediatric stroke that left him debilitated, according to his mother, Myisha Toliver. She introduced him to the crowd of players, fans and families.

“We were told that Myles would not be able to walk. And we were discouraged about baseball,” she said. “Well, the doctors were. Mom never was. So this is exciting for us.”

She said Myles had been participating in Flossmoor baseball since he was 3. He’ll be able to rejoin his Mustang League White Sox team this year and will play first base. The organization arranged for him to have a pinch runner when he bats. 

Before Myles tossed the first pitch, FBBSB President Carlo Gozzi introduced the grand marshal for the parade from Parker Junior High to the Flossmoor Park ball fields, Jacob Schroeder. 

Schroeder got his start in FBBSB and went on to a successful college career as a catcher, playing for John Logan College and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is now a baseball coach at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

Schroeder said he has fond memories of playing ball as a kid, especially the excitement of opening day. 

“This community shaped me to the person that I am and the player that I was,” he said. “This is where my baseball journey began and it’s always going to be a huge part of my story.”