From Friday/Saturday Pilot

Kellam baseball coach begins rehab; prognosis not certain

By Jacey Eckhart
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 25, 2008

Buoyed by a parade of well-wishers, Kellam High School baseball coach St. Clair Jones has started physical therapy after suffering spinal cord damage in a car accident.

And Jones, hospitalized at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital since Tuesday, had a message about the start of baseball season next month: “I’ll be there.”

Jones, 37, was injured Tuesday morning when his car slid off an icy road in Virginia Beach. He suffered fractured vertebrae in his lower back and some spinal cord damage. He was fitted for a brace Thursday and underwent physical therapy early Friday. He expects to go through daily sessions at the hospital for nearly two weeks.

As for the extent of his injury, Jones said, “I won’t know anything till after that week and a half.”

“I’m just focused on getting better,” Jones added on Friday afternoon, flanked in his room by balloons, cards and gifts. “The hardest part is waiting. I’m ready to get going.”

Meanwhile, former and current players and their parents, and coaches from across South Hampton Roads are among those who have kept Jones busy during visiting hours. Still more are sending get-well wishes by telephone — including major leaguers Ryan Zimmerman, David Wright, and B.J. and Justin Upton — and on Internet message boards.

“I appreciate the support people have given to me,” Jones said. “It’s helping me get stronger and keep the faith and push through all this.”

Jones, a special education teacher at Kellam, has been the Knights’ baseball coach for the past seven seasons. A former player at Great Bridge High and Virginia Wesleyan, Jones guided Kellam to the Eastern Region title in 2002 and regularly runs baseball clinics during the offseason.

Those close to Jones aren’t surprised by the wave of outpouring for him.

“He’s got his roots going out in many different ways,” said Jim Moxey, Kellam’s athletic director. “Back to his home of Great Bridge and coaches from all over, from college and high school coaches to umpires. That tells you what type of person he is.”

Added Knights football coach Chris DeWitt, “I’m amazed, and it makes you really proud. People that we graduated five years ago, people who I went to high school with that have some kind of association with Saint, everybody is kind of pulling behind him and offering whatever they can to help his family.”

Moxey has said Jones will remain the Knights’ baseball coach until Jones says otherwise.

Either way, Moxey said Friday, Jones “will be involved in the decisions that are made out there.”

The Virginia High School League allows baseball teams to begin practice Feb. 25 this year, followed by the regular season about two weeks later.

“As long as he can stay mentally strong, he’s going to have as good a chance as anybody to recover from something like that,” Moxey said. “He’s a strong individual physically, for sure, but also mentally.”

A charitable account for donations has been set up at Wachovia Bank in Jones’ name. Donations can be made at any Wachovia or mailed to Wachovia at 1804 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, 23456.