While there are still no signs of 13-year-old Lonnie Hill, who went missing in the ocean in Garden City Beach on Thursday, his baseball coach said there are plenty of positive memories of the boy.
“He was a nice kid. Great with all the other kids. Just, soft spoken, real mild manner,” said Tom McCormick, head coach of the Glen Burnie Patriots.
McCormick said Hill was adored by his family and teammates.
"He was a great kid. He was a great pitcher. He pitched our first win and he also pitched a great game before the incident. But, he was a wonderful person. Great kid. Never gave you a hard time. Wonderful to deal with," McCormick said.
Hill's baseball team traveled from Maryland to South Carolina for a baseball tournament at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach. The day before the drowning incident was like many days for Hill. He spent it playing baseball and having fun with friends.
McCormick said, "We took all the kids to NASCAR Park the day before the incident and he was in the little tea cup ride and everybody spun him so much, he was nauseous and everybody thought it was funny."
McCormick says the young ballplayers and Lonnie's friends are thinking about their missing friend.
"They're dealing with things. It's tough. Everybody's thoughts and prayers are with the family," said McCormick.
The baseball team is moving forward with plans to remember Hill.
"We're looking at doing a memorial at our field. The patch, they're going to put a 21 (on their jerseys) and as a league in general, with the Greater Glen Burnie Baseball, we're going to retire his number for all sports. So 21 will not be worn by anybody, basketball, soccer, baseball," said McCormick.
McCormick said Hill's family appreciates all of the kind words and prayers they've received since the drowning incident.
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