Two schools separated by 9.5 miles with little connection to each other now share a common bond. By now, you have heard the stories. A tornado tore through Henryville, IN leaving families homeless and several injured. However, it is in times of tragedy where we are once again reminded of how special and caring people can be.

Players from Silver Creek HS and Henryville HS were all affected in different ways by the tornado. As a community Henryville lost almost everything including their high school gym which housed most of the baseball team’s equipment.  They saw friends, local communities, businesses and people they never met before rally to help clean up the field, and donate money and baseball supplies just so their baseball team could return to some sense of normalcy. Though there are more important things in life than baseball, and with most of the community still in shambles, for the 16 players on Henryville’s baseball team those donations, gifts, and random acts of kindness are the greatest things they could receive in a time of adversity. 

Silver Creek’s story is a little different.  Head baseball coach Joe Decker almost lost his wife as a result of the tornado.  Decker’s wife, Stephanie, risked her own life to protect her two children from the tornado.  She positioned herself on top of her children to shield them as the tornado approached their home. Falling debris, including a refrigerator, table, and even cinder blocks fell on top of her crushing her legs.  Both legs eventually had to be amputated, one just above the knee, and the other just below.  Stephanie’s heroics were well documented throughout the nation and even around the world.

Henryville and Silver Creek played each other Wednesday night at Silver Creek to open up their seasons.  Silver Creek ended up winning last night’s game 11-2, but the least important thing from last night was the final score. Both schools won in how they have handled their tragedies. Silver Creek played a 50 inning game recently and rose over $1250 that was given to Henryville last night before the game. Bloomington South HS also contributed with a check over $650 to Henryville HS. Silver Creek players helped build an extra room onto Coach Decker's house to help his wife maneuver around the house. Some players were still working at 2am Sunday morning. The Henryville community is still a long ways away from returning to normalcy and needs more help, volunteers, money, and supplies.

Last night’s game was more than just a baseball game.  Both teams walked away winners, and have intertwined both schools and baseball programs forever. 

If you would Like to donate to either program please do so here

Silver Creek and Coach Decker's Wife   Information half way down the Wall
Henryville