Can we talk? Give a hug to Bubba Dorman, USC Salkehatchie baseball

USC Salkehatchie coach Bubba Dorman lets baserunners know there are
two outs in the inning during the first game of a doubleheader against the
Anderson JV team at Anderson Memorial Stadium April 9, 2015. (Palmetto
State Baseball photo)

I was sitting at my computer watching a video stream of the Citadel-Furman game and following some others on ESPN3 at 6:14 p.m. Friday when I got a text message from one of my blog's followers.

"Some bad news coming out of Salk today. Be prepared."

After briefly wondering if it was some kind of arrest or scandal, I responded and asked if a player had died. The response was affirmative.

I contacted another follower with connections to the USC Salkehatchie program. He did some investigating and confirmed that Parker Neff, a redshirt sophomore from Travelers Rest High (my alma mater, BTW), had died.

With a background in real journalism, I knew better than to rush to put specific information on Twitter or this blog, but did send out a Tweet reporting there was "bad news" involving a college baseball team in state.

I wasn't going to try to contact Indians coach Bubba Dorman at a time when I knew emotions would still be running high. I Facebook-messaged a school spokesman, but didn't get a response.

Some of Neff's Facebook friends began making references to his death, but I didn't want to be the first to put his name out there. Then, around 10 p.m., one of North Greenville's Twitter accounts mentioned him by name and I put the information out at PalmettoStateBaseball.com.

Folks who've been in a "team" atmosphere (and not just sports) know how close members can become. Coaches serve as  father-figure, mother-figure and authority-figure and lifetime bonds involving players and coaches quite often are formed.

Dorman, who's coached with some of the best coaches in South Carolina on all levels, has been head coach at Salkehatchie since 2005.

While the program has little support compared to other schools in the state, Dorman has been one of this blog's staunchest supporters.  Many a night I've gotten an e-mail around midnight giving the boxscores so I could post links to them in the daily scorelist.

To the best of my knowledge I've met him once. I introduced myself prior to a doubleheader against the Anderson JVs in Anderson in 2015. That's where I took the picture above (showing why I didn't become a photographer for a living).

After I finally e-mailed Dorman he responded overnight, saying "Parker was a special young man who touched all of us."

I've heard a couple of theories on what may have caused Neff's death. A cause won't be determined until the Allendale County Coroner's Office conducts an autopsy (I assume it will), and even that knowledge won't lessen the hurt.

Our 41-year-old son died of cancer Feb.  22. We got information that death was coming soon about 10 days beforehand, but that didn't make it any easier when the moment came.

Imagine a 21-year-old you're very close to dying without advance warning something was going to happen. That's what Bubba Dorman and his players are going through today.

The latest information I have is that the Saturday and Sunday home doubleheaders against Spartanburg Methodist are going on.

The Indians (10-26) have been snake-bit on the field this season. They've lost eight games they've led in the sixth inning and six times they've lost in their opponent's final at-bat.

But those are nothing like the gut-punch they're experiencing now. Give them some love. Say a prayer if that's something you do. They need it and they'll appreciate it.

RJ