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A fund has been set up at Cortland Bank to assist the Holko family. Anyone can contribute to the fund at any Cortland Bank branch under the Luke Holko Fund.

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» To view video of a press conference held Friday at Akron Children’s Hospital about little Luke’s injuries

By DARCIE LORENO

Tribune Chronicle

AKRON - Four-year-old Luke Holko has an arm like you wouldn't believe, according to his mom Nicole.

Just before a doubleheader Wednesday, the 4-year-old pitched a 19 - just 11 mph slower than she - during his third trip this season to see the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Friday, the boy remained in critical condition after being struck in the head by a line-drive foul ball just minutes after their practice pitches at the Scrappers game.

''He's getting better every minute. It was a complete accident, and we are not upset by any means,'' Nicole Holko said. ''Luke loves baseball, our whole family does, and we'll be back there before you know it.''

During a news conference at Akron Children's Hospital Friday, Nicole Holko, Holko's uncle the Rev. Lee Lenhart and Dr. James Besunder, director of Pediatric Critical Care at the hospital, briefed the media on the incident, which they said has resulted in support, e-mails and donations from the entire community. They also thanked first-responders at the game and their quick action that ''saved him.''

Nicole, of North Bloomfield, said she is a medical assistant at St. Joseph Immediate Care Center and her husband, Chad, is a volunteer firefighter with Greene Township. When the accident happened, Nicole, Chad and Luke were sitting with several other family members behind first base during the second game of a double-header. Nicole said they were getting ready to leave and were taking pictures of each other.

And then she heard the ball hit Luke and the child went limp.

''We stood up and screamed for help,'' she said. ''It took me a few seconds to realize he was hit with the ball.''

They met the EMTs on the field, she said.

''Every second, every minute counts because there's not much that can be done for initial injuries to the brain,'' said Besunder, adding a quick response is vital to preventing secondary injuries caused by blood flow problems or lack of oxygen.

The boy was hit in the left back of the head by the ball, they said, causing his skull to fracture and depressing the bone into his brain. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where he underwent surgery to lift the fracture and take pressure off the brain, Besunder said. Luke was taken to Akron Thursday, where Besunder said doctors were waiting for the pressure to decrease before they can determine what effects the injury will have. Doctors say it may take five days for the swelling in Luke Holko's brain to subside.

Besunder said Holko's age will work in his favor.

Nicole said Friday that the family knows the dangers of fly balls when they go to baseball games.

''We know the danger, you always know,'' she said, adding they had a hard time seeing the balls during the first game due to the bright sun being in their eyes. ''We all kept trying to look and see where the balls were going when they were hit because we know that's something that could happen. It was just one of those things ... one second we didn't look.''

Nicole described Luke as happy and affectionate.

''Fifty times a day, just out of no where, I love you,'' she said. He's so smart. He's very intelligent. And we've been practicing stuff. He's not in preschool yet. He's our life.''

She thanked medical officials and Scrappers officials and said first baseman Ben Carlson, who hit the ball that struck Luke, is in their thoughts.

''We're thinking of him because we know he's having a hard time,'' said Nicole Holko.

dloreno@tribtoday.com