TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Recruiting starts earlier in college baseball than most of its on-campus counterparts and as strange as it seems, Link Jarrett\u2019s Florida State Seminoles may not have had a bigger \u201csigning\u201d this offseason than nine year old Aaron Davis.<\/p>\n
A love of the game, a familiarity with the roster and a passion for the garnet and gold are a winning combination for Aaron, who like most in Jarrett\u2019s program has fought long and hard to get here.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeart, toughness and loyalty,\u201d said Jarrett of the traits he\u2019s looking for in his program. \u201c[Aaron] absolutely has all three.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, a summer of baseball was set to become a smooth fall of third grade. Aaron was fighting through an injury in his legs… or so he thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cMonday he was really complaining about his legs,\u201d remembered Aaron\u2019s father Gary Davis about the week it all changed. \u201cTuesday morning we got up, I turned the light on and I looked at him in the chair and his color just seemed different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c30 minutes after drawing blood they were assembling a team to put him in an ambulance to take him to Shands.\u201d<\/p>\n
That trip to Gainesville would put Aaron on the mound in the game of life, staring down an opponent no kid should ever have to face. One no parent should ever have to watch their child endure.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The doctor] said \u2018we think it\u2019s leukemia and he\u2019s going to have to undergo chemo,\u2019\u201d recalls Davis about his son\u2019s diagnosis. \u201cAs soon as I heard the word chemo, that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Aaron has endured, and he\u2019s done so with a great defense behind him. Forging bonds with his heroes from Dick Howser Stadium, becoming particularly close with infielders Carter McCulley and Jace Estes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts, it always hurts when someone you love is in pain, but it also helps when it\u2019s Aaron,\u201d said McCulley of watching Aaron\u2019s fight. \u201cHe\u2019s still smiling through the chemo and all the treatments. It\u2019s cool and honestly it\u2019s inspiring to everybody in the locker room.\u201d<\/p>\n
So perhaps its only fitting that McCulley and Estes flanked Aaron and Coach Jarrett in a team meeting in January when the nine year old put pen to paper to join the FSU Baseball program through Team Impact, which partners children going through critical illnesses with collegiate sports teams. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really cool,\u201d beamed a shy Aaron after signing with the \u2018Noles.<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s doors are open to the third grader whenever he\u2019s in town and not receiving treatment in Gainesville, continuing his fight with an entire team behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like we get to return the favor now,\u201d said Estes of supporting their young superfan in his fight. \u201cWe get to cheer him on his battle.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Aaron hoping this is only the first signing, with the other happening after it\u2019s \u201cK-Time\u201d for cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wants to actually play baseball for Florida State,\u201d said Davis of his son\u2019s dreams for the future. \u201cWhat do you tell a kid other than \u2018dude if you lick this, there\u2019s nothing you can\u2019t do?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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