She was moving slowly with the help of a cane and speaks slowly as she continues to rehabilitate from injuries she received in a November car crash. The fact that she was able to be out to watch the game and support her former teammates, including her younger sister, was a tribute to the hard work she has done to recover from her injuries, her friends said.
She spent months in the hospital, much of it in intensive care, and has been able to gradually get around better. She visited the school in late March to attend the FFA banquet, but was in a wheelchair at that time.
Coleman graduated from Talawanda last May after a successful high school career, during which she played basketball and softball. As the catcher last year for the softball team, she finished with a .811 fielding percentage, with 16 putouts. Hitting for a .349 batting average, she played in 21 games with 22 hits including seven doubles and two triples. She scored seven runs and had 16 runs batted in.
She received flowers and stuffed animals as a tribute from the team at the May 6 game, but more than the material things, she said she felt the love and support of the team and the community at the game.
“I’m so thankful. I thank God every day for it. He’s given me another chance at life,” she said. “I’ve had so much support through all of it, support from everyone, even people my parents do not know.”
For the game, players wore T-shirts with their numbers on the back but on the front was the phrase, “Regan Strong” with a heart and in the middle and Coleman’s former uniform number, 16. Others in the crowd also sported the shirts.
“My family is very strong. They say I’m strong, but it’s my family who is strong. I don’t think I could go through what they went through,” she said.
She also credits her sisters with loving support for her in her recovery — Zoe, a sophomore shortstop for the team this year, and Macie, an eighth-grader this year.
Softball Coach Christina Beckett was happy for the support her former player received and called it “an emotional day” for her team.
Coleman said the support she has received has stretched all over Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as relatives, friends and others heard about her situation. They even heard from people in Maine and it extended to the other end of the country, as well.
“We have a cousin who used to live in Alaska. He told friends about it and they supported us,” she said with a smile. “It makes me proud to be part of this community. I see people love me and care about me, it makes a difference.”
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