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When Gryson Cockrell tore his ACL in the opening game of the season for the LaGrange football team last fall, he thought it was a heartbreaking end to his high school athletic career. Over the following few months, Cockrell worked tirelessly to get back for the high school baseball season and he has done just that.

On Feb. 27, Cockrell made his season debut against Central Phenix City, getting a hit. The senior will never forget his first at-bat of the season.

“My walk-up song starts playing, but I can barely hear it because of how loud everybody is cheering,” Cockrell said. “I wasn’t expecting that but it felt really good and it gave me a boost of confidence.”

There was a little rust at first, but it did not take Cockrell long to find his groove. 

It has been a long road back for Cockrell. 

Having to sit on the sidelines and watch the LaGrange football team make a run to the Final Four was tougher than any physical obstacles he had to overcome. 

“It was really tough because the football team hadn’t had that kind of run in my first few years here and knowing that if I was healthy I could be out there helping them made it even harder,” Cockrell said. 

Through the entire recovery process, one thing that did bring Cockrell peace of mind was his commitment to Columbus State to further his baseball and athletic career. Instead of worrying about how his injury might affect his college recruiting, Cockrell was able to hone in and focus solely on his recovery.

“I liked committing so early because it kind of took the pressure off of the season a little bit. And also I committed before my injury,” Cockrell said. “So if I wouldn’t have committed before, there’s no telling if I would have got that opportunity again or anything like that. So I was glad I did.”

Returning to the diamond for his senior year has brought a real sense of satisfaction in many ways. One of those ways is the fact that for the first time, Cockrell gets to play on the same team as his younger brother, Riley.

“It’s really weird to look up and see my brother starting at shortstop,” he said. “The other day against Upson-Lee we played on the field together for the first time. It was definitely an experience that I won’t forget.”

With a three-year age gap between the two brothers, they never previously played on a travel ball or parks and rec team.

There was a time when it looked like the varsity team might just have one Cockrell this season. When Cockrell was initially injured he did not think it would be that bad until receiving the demoralizing news from the doctor.

“I couldn’t help but think that this was just my luck,” Cockrell said. “I mean it was the first football game of the year.

“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it at first,” he added.

Cockrell’s legacy with the Grangers was intact whether he played this season or not, having helped the Grangers to back-to-back state runner-up finishes in his freshman and sophomore year, but his Herculean effort to get back for his senior season just further reinforces the impact he has had on LaGrange baseball.

“I love this team,” Cockrell said. “Being able to put this jersey on every year has been special and it really hasn’t sunk in yet that it’s almost over.”