Wayne Country Day's Turnage overcomes injury, extends playing days

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on July 1, 2017 7:49 PM

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His demeanor, steeped in Bible-verse humility and a relaxed, athletic posture, is advertised by two distinct elements -- the handshake and the smile.

The former was cut from his daddy's mold, over many a choke-point eastern North Carolina summer, between endless rows of corn and soybeans and tobacco on a family farm in Greene County.

Above all else, the gesture functions as a bit of quiet assertion that belies his years. 

The latter is wholly different.

It is the fully-formed, physical likeness of a southern drawl, curled at the edges like Mike McDermott wore in Rounders and usually accompanied by a slight shake of his head.

Above all else, the grin functions as proof that hardship testimony doesn't have to be a recurring nightmare -- but rather the opposite.

So that's how it came to pass that Mitch Turnage forged a path through his final season of varsity baseball at Wayne Country Day School -- with character solid enough to survive a campaign that started, stopped abruptly, forced itself back to square one and now, has extended life. 

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March 7, 2016.

After reaching base early in a mercy-rule shellacking of Grace Christian, Turnage passed go from second and tried to score on a ball laced up the middle by teammate John Strickland. 

And it happened.

Again.

"I was rounding third, about halfway home, and there was a throw to the plate and I hear, gotta get there," Turnage said of the moment. "I felt it pop, and I knew... I was like, oh no -- here we go again." 

What popped, aside from the large bubble holding the air of Country Day's season-opener, was his left hamstring -- a painful, time-lapsing injury that defined a portion of his junior campaign as well.

"It was heartbreaking, if I had one word to describe it," he said.

And also lonely.

Gone in a flash was the time spent marking base sprigs and tamping the hill. Gone was the time spent running sprints and in the cage, his home away from home, getting in quality hacks.

Gone was the time spent laughing with his mates.  

In its place was a litany of doctors, chiropractors and variations of the PRICE model -- or protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation, to be specific -- not exactly what the power-hitter had in mind for his final waltz in a WCDS uniform. 

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The outset proved most difficult, as it often does for many athletes.

In addition to being separated from a clockwork familiar, there was the thought that, even with proper rest and rehabilitation, a second rally from the DL might not be in the cards. 

"It's stressful," Turnage said of the recovery process. "Lonely. I did a lot of thinking and wondering... if I was going to be able to come back."

So in the place of the tried-and-true, Turnage carved out a new role for himself -- one that saw him become a manager for the club's daily functionality.  

"He was the first one to show up at practice, being injured," noted WCDS skipper Michael Taylor.

"He was the first one on his bands, still working out... still making sure that he was in baseball shape -- and the guys saw what he was doing."

But what they couldn't have seen, or imagined, is what happened next.

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His rehab stint absolved in short order by rigorous work, Turnage defied typical odds and worked his way back into Taylor's lineup -- albeit gingerly.

After treading his proving ground at first base, Turnage managed a few innings at his old haunt in the six-hole. He even coerced his way onto the mound for a few frames, spelling rotation regulars like Amane Godo, Jack Talton and Strickland.

And in the process, he found a love for the game anew.

"When you realize its over, its tough," Turnage said. "And with not being able to go 100 percent this season, it was a definite (to pursue collegiate baseball)."

And wouldn't you know, plenty of suitors were interested.

Over the balance of Country Day's schedule, representatives from William Peace, Lenoir Community College, USC-Sumter and Prince George's Community College in Largo, Maryland -- a traditional junior college power -- all made inquiries about Turnage's blend of smarts and savvy.

The deciding factor?

Home.

"There are plenty of places to go play ball, but you've gotta have fun with it, too."

Cue LCC.

In addition to living just a cutoff throw from the campus, Turnage will be joining a group of Wayne County upstarts hoping to resurrect a program that is, at present, in the throes of a dugout-wide overhaul.

Along for the ride will be the familiar faces of Tanner Bradley (RHS), Will Rouse (SC), Boone Moody (RHS) and Hunter Burt (WC).

"We're excited," he said.  "I'm excited."

As well he should be -- the difficult part is over.