By ALDO AMATO / Staff Writer

ALABASTER– Faced with what seemed like a permanent injury at an early age, a Thompson High School graduate has now accomplished a major athletic milestone.

Taylor Burnett, a former THS pitcher, has never had it easy. Ever since an early age, he has had to adapt in order to play the game he loves.

When he was just a toddler, Burnett said he was ridding on the front of a 3-wheeler with his father when the vehicle flipped over.

“Around when I was about 1 or 2 years old is when it happened,” Burnett said. “I don’t remember the accident itself but I remember going for checkups on my injuries when I was 5.”

Burnett, 18, said that his head split open in the accident and he suffered head moderate trauma.

“My skull was fractured from ear to ear,” he said. “My parents said it was pretty bad.”

To go along with his fractured skull and head trauma, Burnett was also paralyzed on his right side forcing the former righty to adapt.

“My parents said that I was starting to do everything with my right hand by then,” he said. “So I had no choice to switch to my left after the accident.”

Burnett’s willingness to adapt and perseverance helped him when it came to playing sports.  He said that baseball has always been part of his life ever since he could pick up one. Since then, the left-handed pitcher pitched well enough to earn a college scholarship to Ecclesia College, a Christian college in Springdale, AR.

“I am excited to be a part of their inaugural baseball team,” he said. “I am grateful for my parents who have been with me every step of the way and have helped me with whatever I need.”

The now fully recovered Burnett said that he once tried to switch back to his right side around the eighth grade, but it didn’t feel natural. He added that up to this point, his left-handed style has been a blessing.

“It has helped me with many opportunities,” he said. “Especially now having earned a college scholarship.”