Monday, May 13
Kingwood's Michael Flower Can Serve As Example For Looper
by, H5AB courtesy of the Flower family,

Michael, a promising young catcher for the Kingwood Mustangs, was called up to the Varsity level in his freshman year. He caught a couple of district games and a couple of non-district games and got some good experience. In his sophomore year he would catch several games and play a little outfield as well and he was receiving D1 inquiries after the completion of his sophomore season. This brilliant student athlete had it all going for him.

On August 20, 2000 he attended a birthday party for his mother's niece at Joe’s Crab shack in Humble. He dropped his mother and sister off at home around 9:00 P.M. and went to his girlfriend’s house. They went to one of her friend’s house where they met up with some of their other friends. Around 10:00 P.M. Michael offered to drive his buddy to his house, so he could change clothes, and 3 other teenagers wanted to go. The five friends piled in his Jeep Cherokee for a 2-mile ride to his buddy’s house. As Michael approached a bridge, a car sped over the bridge in his lane and hit his Jeep head on. This is a two lane road and an obvious no passing zone. It turned out to be a Houston Police Officer who said he was trying to apprehend a traffic violator.


The teenagers received some very serious injuries. Michael and a young lady from Huffman were life-flighted to Herman Hospital. The young lady was the most seriously injured with severe head injuries. She spent several months in (TIRR) recovering. Michael had a broken femur, a cracked pelvis, and a fractured patella, as well as some nasty head wounds, which required numerous stitches. Very bad injuries to have under any circumstances, but particularly troublesome if you are a catcher.

I didn’t know if he would be able to play again, but that was the first question he asked the orthopedic surgeon who worked on him. “ Will I be able to play baseball again?” I guess when you’ve played since you were five, it becomes how you define yourself. He worked very hard with a personal trainer after he got the release from his doctor. After several months of pretty intense workouts, he got the ok to run in January 2001. He did make it back in time for baseball his junior year and he said he felt fine, but he had a very sub-par year for him. I know his confidence was shaken, and I wasn’t sure if he would ever be the same player. He played primarily in the outfield last year.

He refused to attend any pro tryout camps last summer, because he didn’t feel like he was ready. When they started their summer baseball in June, he started to answer his own questions. He started catching again, and hitting like he did before the accident. He was the leader on Kingwood’s summer team in hitting at around .568 and I could see his confidence coming back. He played Summer Select Baseball for the Baytown Knights, and at the Connie Mack state tournament at Southwest Texas in San Marcos, he went 7 for 10 with two doubles and a triple. From his Summer Baseball, he did get a Scholarship Offer from Angelina College, which he accepted. I still wondered how he would do in a long tough 5 A season. He pretty well answered those questions this year.

Michael went on to post some fantastic numbers in the 2002 non-district and district season and is helping his team in their play-off push for every High School team’s goal, a State Championship. State Championship or not, Michael’s experience can and should serve as a true example of a Champion to us all.

Sometimes when you see your kid(s) overcome major obstacles to reach for a goal they really want, they can really surprise you. I have always been proud of his athletic achievements, but I am even more proud of the desire and hard work he displayed to overcome all of this. It was a real character builder for him.

The news about Reid Looper of Stratford struck really close to home. Michael had the guys sign a ball for him and I dropped it off at Stratford a couple weeks ago. Their coach (Koch) called me and left me a message that he is doing better in TIRR. He was throwing a ball from a chair with his dad. They think he will be fine, but is in for a long road back..

The moral of this story: With strong faith, love of family and friends, and pure grit, will and determination, anything is possible.