Baseball helps Pickerings cope with loss of mother
ONA -- The "JJP" on the back of the Nitro High baseball caps is a physical reminder of Chase and Andrew Pickering's mother -- Jennifer Jane "Missy" Pickering -- who died on Feb. 12.
The psychological memories for the Wildcats star baseball brothers come at every waking moment. It was a little more than one month before the season's start when Chase noticed his mom wasn't moving off the couch, "except to go to bed.
"I asked her what was wrong and she'd say nothing," he said. "She always kept things to herself. I told her to go to the hospital and see a doctor and she waited another week. I think that's what really caused it."
Pickering died of cancer.
Obviously, this is about more than baseball. Despite being separate, sports can provide a comfort zone during life's most trying moments.
The two worlds collide for Chase when he can't find his mom watching him from the stands.
"I'm really close to my mom and my older brother Ryan," said Chase, who is two years older than Andrew. "If I ever had a problem, I went to my mom or him. It was hard on me and my brother Andrew."
It's only 10 games into the 2008 season and the Pickering brothers -- particularly senior Chase -- have already dealt with a year's worth of challenges.
Chase Pickering has spent three-plus years at Nitro making a name for himself as a guy with speed -- both as a leadoff hitter and as a pitcher.
Word is it's not "if" he'll get chosen in June's Major League Draft, but "when."
For his part, the WVU signee is spending this season fending off questions about his prospective draft position, his mom and getting back to the State Tournament.
He was plenty focused on Wednesday night at Cabell Midland's Joe McDonie Fields, hitting a home run on the game's seventh pitch, knocking in four runs, scoring three times and contributing three stolen bases against the Knights (4-3) in a 9-3 Nitro victory.
And he struck out 15 batters, setting down the side in the first and third innings. In three starts, Pickering is 2-1 with 36 strikeouts in 17 innings and a 2.47 earned run average. "When I'm on the baseball field I focus on me and my catcher, Andrew Frazier," said Pickering, a first-team All-State selection as a junior and a candidate for State Player of the Year honors this season. "I try to block everything else out."
Except for his mother.
"They've actually done a lot better than I would have," Nitro Coach Steve Pritchard said. "The parents of other players have helped, opening their doors and hearts to them."
The initials on the hat were the team's idea and Chase playing for his mom was his, but it is a simple one.
"I guess you can say I play for my mom, but I've been playing for her my whole life," Chase said. "She loved to watch me play and loved to watch me succeed."
So do scouts -- the Twins and Braves were in Ona on Wednesday as well as WVU Coach Greg Van Zant.
There is no indication what team will select Chase and whether or not he'll sign.
Chase has been given an idea of what to expect in two months but he's not offering any clues.
"When people ask me I just kind of say I don't know," Chase said. "I keep it to myself."
"I asked her what was wrong and she'd say nothing," he said. "She always kept things to herself. I told her to go to the hospital and see a doctor and she waited another week. I think that's what really caused it."
Pickering died of cancer.
Obviously, this is about more than baseball. Despite being separate, sports can provide a comfort zone during life's most trying moments.
The two worlds collide for Chase when he can't find his mom watching him from the stands.
"I'm really close to my mom and my older brother Ryan," said Chase, who is two years older than Andrew. "If I ever had a problem, I went to my mom or him. It was hard on me and my brother Andrew."
It's only 10 games into the 2008 season and the Pickering brothers -- particularly senior Chase -- have already dealt with a year's worth of challenges.
Chase Pickering has spent three-plus years at Nitro making a name for himself as a guy with speed -- both as a leadoff hitter and as a pitcher.
Word is it's not "if" he'll get chosen in June's Major League Draft, but "when."
For his part, the WVU signee is spending this season fending off questions about his prospective draft position, his mom and getting back to the State Tournament.
He was plenty focused on Wednesday night at Cabell Midland's Joe McDonie Fields, hitting a home run on the game's seventh pitch, knocking in four runs, scoring three times and contributing three stolen bases against the Knights (4-3) in a 9-3 Nitro victory.
Except for his mother.
"They've actually done a lot better than I would have," Nitro Coach Steve Pritchard said. "The parents of other players have helped, opening their doors and hearts to them."
The initials on the hat were the team's idea and Chase playing for his mom was his, but it is a simple one.
"I guess you can say I play for my mom, but I've been playing for her my whole life," Chase said. "She loved to watch me play and loved to watch me succeed."
So do scouts -- the Twins and Braves were in Ona on Wednesday as well as WVU Coach Greg Van Zant.
There is no indication what team will select Chase and whether or not he'll sign.
Chase has been given an idea of what to expect in two months but he's not offering any clues.
"When people ask me I just kind of say I don't know," Chase said. "I keep it to myself."
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