Community embraces Little Leaguer

Gianni Toce is tired of the “Backyardigans” and is already asking for the “Pirate” movie.

Eight-year-old Gianni, a Destin Little League player on the machine pitch Yankees, suffered severe facial and head injuries from fireworks Sunday night. Gianni and his family were using the firework to remember his mom on Mother’s Day. She died several years ago from cancer.

But some of those who visited Gianni at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola Wednesday came back with good reports.

“I think he is doing great,” said Summer Jarosewicz who made the trek to Pensacola. Her son Dallas, who plays on the machine pitch team the Cardinals, “is his buddy,” she said.

Jarosewicz said that Gianni was already getting tired of hearing the Backyardagans and was ready for a pirate movie.

She said they mainly went to “let him know that the guys are rooting him on.”

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Gianni's father speaks out. Click here to see story.

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Matt Metcalfe, who is involved with the children’s ministry at Shoreline Church where Gianni attends, also paid him a visit on Wednesday.

“He’s a super kid, very bright, super friendly and loves God,” Metcalfe said. “He always gets along with the other kids.”

Metcalfe said Gianni loves the “praise and worship” at church. “He likes to dance and clap his hands.”

After his visit Wednesday, Metcalfe said, “He looks better than I expected ... and was responsive.”

As for Gianni’s vision, Metcalfe had good news. He said the doctors have said that both optic nerves are intact and that he could possibly have partial vision.

“The hospital personnel is doing a great job of taking care of him,” Metcalfe said.

“We love Gianni and felt like he needed to be prayed over,” he said.

“We believe in the power of prayer and we’re already seeing results.”

Armbands and ribbons

One of the ways some of players are showing support for Gianni is they are wearing armbands bearing Gianni’s initials “G.T.”

Coach Jeff Gamel of the Cubs made the white armbands for his team to wear throughout the playoffs which started this week at Dalton Threadgill Little League Park.

“I just thought it was some way to let ’em know we were thinking about him,” Gamel said.

The players proudly wore them Wednesday night as they took the ball field.

“He’s in my class ... I pray for him every night,” said Gavin Lizana of the Cubs. “He’s on my football team too.”

“We prayed for him,” Adrian Hamilton chimed in.

When Paxton Fell was asked why he was wearing the armband he replied, “because something bad happened to Gianni.”

Not only were players wearing armbands but parents of players were wearing white ribbons pinned to their shirts.

“We’re doing it in support of the Toce family,” said Tim Strickland who has a son on the Cubs, another machine pitch team in the league.

Strickland also attended a prayer vigil that was held at Kelly Plantation Wednesday evening. Those who attended were given a piece of yellow yarn to wear on their wrist to remind them to say a prayer for Gianni and his family.

Words of praise

“We’re making him part of the All-Star team,” said Bob Wagner, president of the Destin Little League Association.

Wagner, who also serves as an umpire several nights a week at the park, said “He’s a class act ... That’s why everybody is going to bat for him. His whole team is a class act.”

On the nights Wagner has umpired Yankee games, he said it looked as though Gianni is a team leader.

Not only is he a leader on the baseball field but on the gridiron as well.

“He is a bright star,” said Jimmy Fell who was head coach of the Destin Dolphin Red Peewee team that made it to the Super Bowl this past season.

“Gianni wasn’t the fastest or the strongest but he made up for it with heart and desire,” Fell said.

Gianni, who played linebacker and defensive lineman for the Destin Red team, “had no fear,” Fell said.

“He’d do whatever we asked. If we asked him to run into a brick wall ... He’d say ‘how hard?’”

Fell said you can just watch him on the ball field and “know he’s having fun.”

However, with the firework accident and having boys himself, Fell said, “It puts life in slow motion.

“You kind of look in your kids or players eyes a little deeper ... and try not to lose perspective.”

Accidents do happen and “you have to move on,” Fell said.

“Things happen for a reason and I also believe God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”

WANT TO HELP?
While close friends have sent a few items to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Gianni’s unit is small and there isn’t room for much else. Gianni’s father has asked those who’d like to help to donate items and money to others who are more in need. Shoreline Church has set up a fund to help the family with expenses. For more information, call the church at (850) 650-8658 or send monetary gifts to Shoreline Church, Toce Family Fund, P.O. Box 457, Destin, FL 32540.