Cape local Zeke Clark set to throw first pitch on Phillies Opening Day

Before Zack Wheeler takes the hill for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day Thursday, March 28, a young lad from the Cape Region will be on the mound to officially get the Phillies’ season underway – 4-year-old Zeke Clark.

“I’m excited!” Zeke said.

Zeke has been working hard with his best friend, hero and dad Jonathan Clark rehabbing following a tragic accident that occurred less than a year ago. As the two were bonding during a riding mower grass-cutting session, Zeke quickly leaped from his dad to try and reach a picnic table. Unfortunately, his right leg became caught in the blades of the mower and his father acted quickly to perform life-saving measures. 

Since then, Zeke has been in and out of surgeries while working on rehabbing with his dad and health professionals. Although he now wears a prosthetic on his lower right leg, the 4-year-old continues to be his usual playful and curious self.

“Zeke really has not changed at all,” his mom Maria Clark DeForrest said. “The accident was June 7; at the end of July at the Delaware State Fair, he was on the tractors and all the mowers with my husband like any other 3- or 4-year-old, just kind of exploring. We were astonished that he is just so fearless, but it is inspiring even for us to watch him, just because he is persevering.”

Clark DeForrest credits her husband for rehabilitating their son.

“The intensive rehab that he and my husband have done has probably prepared him the most,” Clark DeForrest said. “He's his caregiver and does all of the trips up to Wilmington. My husband is really the person who's behind the majority of Zeke's recovery because he's so hands-on. It's been good because it’s a healing process for both of them together, since they were both part of the accident.”

Watching Zeke run around and hit the ball on the Lewes Little League ball field, it’s remarkable to see how confident he is in his movement months later. His mom thinks the first-pitch experience will be beneficial to her son's foray in sports.

“This is Zeke’s first introduction to sports, so he’s kind of starting at the top, but I think it’ll be great because the type of people who he gets to interact with and be surrounded by are going to give him a nice glimpse into what his future could be,” Clark DeForrest said.

Zeke will be accompanied by his orthopedic pediatric surgeon, Dr. Jeanne Franzone, when he takes the bump to start the Phillies season. Clark DeForrest is grateful for not only the bond the two have formed, but also because the first pitch serves as a distraction from a “good news” surgery Franzone will perform on Good Friday. 

Zeke will be officially getting his flex rods, which were helping with a broken femur, taken out during the operation in addition to a re-amputation to slim down some of the bone growth. He’ll need to be in a wheelchair for four to six weeks following the surgery before he continues his physical therapy. Clark DeForrest said he’s done exceptionally well with his growth and healing.

Mom and dad continue to support their son in any way they can, and they know that while there are challenges ahead, it is something that will continue to be a part of his and their lives while he continues to grow and beyond.

“It is eye-opening to us what this process and journey toward recovery does because it is not a one-and-done,” Clark DeForrest said. “We do know that this entire journey is instilling hard work, discipline and endurance for him at such a young age.”

A fundraiser on the website helphopelive.org has helped the family raise $72,050 of $200,000 to help cover medical expenses and the cost of care.

“That has really helped us to get through the last nine months, and then we will be actively fundraising for the future,” Clark DeForrest said. “We still don't know what that looks like. We don't know what sports he'll be active in. We don't know how many times he's going to need new fittings and new attachments. There are different attachments for every sport. So we're just trying to be as prepared as we can. He's only 4 years old, so we have a long way to go for him to be fully grown.”

Zeke’s mom believes there’s nothing that will stop him from becoming who he wants to become. As for Zeke? He wanted to make sure the readers knew one thing about him.

“I love Jesus!” Zeke said as he was off to a promised trip to Rehoboth Beach for beach exploration.

Donations, for anyone interested, can be made at helphopelive.org/campaign/22355 or by searching “Zeke Clark” at helphopelive.org.