Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Parkland survivor gets emotional boost from Rizzo
MIAMI — When Anthony Rizzo drove Jose Urena’s pitch into the seats in right field in the second inning on Opening Day at Marlins Park, it was an emotional charge that registered 40 miles away in his hometown of Parkland.
No one felt it more than Ben Wikander, one of the survivors of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, who was watching on television at home as he recovers from his wounds.
A day later, Wikander, 17, recounted the moment and what it meant to him as he watched batting practice from behind the cage at Marlins Park.
“I was watching at home with my mom and I started screaming out, ‘Mom, he just hit a homer!’ and she started crying. It was really emotional for us like it was for him,” Wikander said of the Cubs first baseman. “That was a really cool experience.”
On Friday, Wikander joined in throwing out ceremonial first pitches along with relatives of three of the 17 individuals killed in the shootings: Arielle Feis, daughter of coach Aaron Feis; Jesse Guttenberg, brother of student Jamie Guttenberg; and Corey Hixon, son of Athletic Director Chris Hixon.
The Marlins, in partnership with Rizzo and his charitable foundation, presented a check for $305,000 to the National Compassion Fund-Parkland from monies raised through an auction.
For Wikander, being on the field and meeting with Rizzo and Marlins center fielder Lewis Brinson, a Coral Springs High grad, was more than a monetary benefit.
“It definitely means a lot to finally have a break from all this. The last six weeks have been really tough,” Wikander said. “I was in the hospital for two weeks. I’ve been home ever since then. I’m getting a little better every day, but it definitely means a lot to be able to come here and get a break and have fun with a baseball game.”
Wikander, his right arm heavily bandaged and in a sling, wore a Cubs jersey with “Rizzo” on the back. He said he is facing at least one more surgery.
“I’m able to walk around. My arm is doing a lot better. I should be able to get this off soon,” he said.
Rizzo, a Stoneman Douglas alum, returned from spring training in the immediate aftermath of the shootings to lend support to the Parkland community. Prior to Thursday’s game, he spoke out in support of the Parkland students’ activism on behalf of stronger gun laws and decried criticism that has been directed at them.
Wikander indicated that visits while still in the hospital from Rizzo and Brinson helped with the process of emotional healing.
“[Rizzo] came to visit me in the hospital in the beginning and that really brightened my spirits then. He stayed for like an hour and a half and he talked to me. It was just a really good experience,” Wikander said.
“Lewis Brinson came to visit me in the hospital and then he came over to my house a few times to visit me, and he’s been really nice too. Everyone here has definitely been willing to help all of us out and they’ve been really good to us.”
The Marlins and Cubs are honoring the Parkland victims and survivors throughout the four-game series.
Both teams are wearing an MSD ribbon patch with 17 stars on it throughout the series, recognizing those who lost their lives. A similar tribute will remain on the left-field wall all season.
Straily throws
Marlins pitcher Dan Straily threw Friday for the first time since feeling discomfort in his right forearm while pitching in a minor league game during spring training on March 19.
Straily made 25 throws on flat ground from 60 feet Friday. Marlins manager
Don Mattingly acknowledged that it could be a few weeks before the key member of the starting staff is ready to return to the rotation.