Do you know Casey Blake?

Tonight was my big claim to fame – I just watched Indianola, Iowa, native, Casey Blake hit the go-ahead homer for the Dodgers in the bottom of the 6th inning. Why is that exciting for me? Well, way back when I coached and was the head athletic trainer at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, Casey was in the minor leagues. One year during the off-season, he came into the athletic training room and I helped him with a little rehab on his arm – can’t recall if it was an elbow or what exactly it was, but I saw him on a regular basis. His dad, Joe, has been a long-time coach for the Simpson baseball team, and now his brother, Ben, is the head coach at Simpson. Casey also has a younger brother, Pete, whom I got to know when he was playing high school ball, as I was the athletic trainer that covered several Indianola High School baseball games during Pete’s career. That high school baseball team was VERY good, and I always looked forward to covering their games. Not only did I get to know Casey a little, but his wife, Abby (then Archibald), played softball and basketball for Simpson during my coaching years there as well. Abby was an amazing athlete, and to say that the Blake family is a “baseball family” is an understatement. Best of luck in the rest of the post-season, Casey!

Be Sociable, Share!

•