Disease can’t bat away youngster’s love of baseball

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By Craig DeVrieze | Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:17 AM CDT | () comments

Trenton Kimmel(Craig DeVrieze/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

Trenton Kimmel became a Boston Red Sox fan because, at age 4, he heard about The Green Monster.

“I was really scared of it because I actually thought it was a monster,’’ he remembered this week. “That’s how I started liking the Red Sox.’’

Six years later, a real monster — a debilitating beast called limb-girdle muscular dystrophy — is threatening to end Trenton’s baseball-playing days.

That isn’t happening yet, though.

Trenton recently completed his first season as a member of the Northwest Little League major division’s Quad-City Bank & Trust team.

The avid baseball lover played just two innings per game after moving up from the intermediate division into the majors, which is for players ages 10 through 12. He split time at first base and in the outfield.

The youngster would play more if his body allowed, but less if his doctors had their way.

“They don’t want him to (play),’’ his father, Greg Kimmel, said of physicians who diagnosed his son with the disease in April of last year. “But as parents, his mother (Ginger) and I don’t want to take away his whole childhood.’’

Once a busy young athlete who wrestled and played football as well as playing baseball both in Little League and with a traveling team, Trenton Kimmel said baseball always has been his favorite sport.

“There is a lot of confidence in it, and nobody gives up,’’ he said.

He is not giving up, either.

“I want to keep playing until I can’t,’’ he said.

A fifth-grader-to-be at Adams Elementary in Davenport, Trenton once pitched every game in the minor division, where he developed a nasty knuckleball.

Northwest Little League president Jim Moellenbeck said Trenton’s fortitude and determination are inspirational to the youngsters around him.

“We know one of these days he is not going to be able to play baseball anymore,’’ Moellenbeck said. “He just loves baseball, and we’d like to give him a chance to throw out the first pitch in a tournament game.’’

According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy is a common form of the disease that generally first affects the muscles around the shoulder and pelvic region and later can attack other muscle groups.

The disease, with no known cure, typically is diagnosed in patients between the ages of 10 and 30, and generally advances more quickly when diagnosed in childhood.

In time, his father said, Trenton may require use of a wheelchair. For now, he looks to be a strong and healthy child, with the only sign of a problem occasionally tiring and aching muscles that require frequent rest and breaks.

“If he tries to keep up with other kids, he can for a little bit,’’ Greg Kimmel said. “But he has to limit himself. Otherwise, he pays for it later. And it will break down his muscles, and they won’t repair themselves ... So we are trying to preserve his muscles as long as we can.’’

Just not at the expense of as close to a normal childhood as possible.

And, for Trenton, that very much includes baseball.

Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Trenton last month got to celebrate his love for the game and the Red Sox.

“It was actually amazing,’’ he said of a June 20-23 trip to Fenway Park in Boston. “I couldn’t believe it. I’m sort of mad because the wish is over now. And I want to go back.’’

At Fenway, he scooped up some infield dirt and visited with players such as Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jason Varitek, Alex Cora and Dustin Pedroia. He also played catch with All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell.

“He is a very nice person,’’ Trenton reported. “I threw him a knuckleball.’’

Trenton also touched the famous Monster and hopes to stay in touch with baseball for the rest of his life.

As a coach?

“Well, maybe,’’ he said. “But I really want to be an announcer.’’

IF YOU GO

At 5 p.m. today, Trenton Kimmel will throw out the first pitch in advance of the championship game of the 9-10-year-old Iowa Little League All-Star state tournament at the Northwest Little League diamonds, in the 3400 block of North Division Street.

“Sort of scared about it,’’ Trenton said. “I don’t want it to hit the ground.’’

MDA fundraiser

What: 2nd annual Trenton Kimmel Muscular Dystrophy Ride and Cookout on Aug. 23.

When: Motorcycle poker run through the Quad-Cities will begin with

10 a.m. registration at Knights of Columbus Hall, 1111 W. 35th St., Davenport. Cookout and silent auction will start at 2 p.m. at the KC Hall.

Proceeds: Will be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which used $5,000 raised last year to send six children, including Trenton, to the MDA’s Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa. Trenton’s father, Greg Kimmel, said he hopes to raise twice as much money this year.

Contact: Deb Whitford at (563) 359-5181 or klewis@mdausa.org.

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com.