Kayden Althoff Working Way Back from Injury; Signs to Pitch for Lake Land

(PRESENT AT KAYDEN ALTHOFF'S SIGNING CEREMONY TUESDAY, SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT: JULIE ALTHOFF {stepmom}, KAYDEN ALTHOFF, STACY DASENBROCK {mom} AND STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: JOSH ALTHOFF {dad), TEUTOPOLIS BASEBALL COACH JUSTIN FLEENER, AND DEREK DASENBROCK {stepdad})

Surgery on a damaged ACL usually means a lost year to an athlete.

Kayden Althoff is working to prove that he will be the exception to that rule.

The Teutopolis High School senior signed Tuesday to play college baseball at Lake Land College in Mattoon this fall. Althoff, though, wants to make that Lake Land experience one that comes after pitching this senior season for the Wooden Shoes.

Althoff explained that he plans to return this spring despite his significant injury. While he can't play in the field due to the toll such lateral movement would take on his leg, he has been told he will be able to pitch and is continuing his recovery with that goal in mind.

Those who saw the injury occur while Althoff was playing basketball at Effingham High School during the Effingham-Teutopolis Christmas Classic won't soon forget it. There was no one around Althoff at the time; he just went down in a heap. There were tears in the eyes of Wooden Shoes basketball coach Chet Reeder when he talked about the incident after the game. 

While Althoff can't play anymore basketball this season, he is still there at each Teutopolis game, on the bench and helping where he can.

Teutopolis baseball coach Justin Fleener is thrilled to have Althoff available as a pitcher, but just as excited because of the leadership Kayden exhibits, even while battling his injury.

Coach Fleener talked with Greg Sapp about Kayden...

Greg also had the opportunity to talk with Kayden Althoff following his signing ceremony...