If you follow baseball in our league, you might remember John Coker, who played for the Cajuns from 2004-05. In 2005, Coker led the league in runs scored (82) and triples (10). He also stole 29 bases and had 28 extra base hits, helping lead the Cajuns to a 48-19 record, the SBC regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Regionals.

But Coker was also one of the best defensive outfielders in Cajuns' history. He was known for his fearless tracking of the baseball and ran into fences to field balls more than once. At WKU in 2005, Coker hit the wall so hard in left-center he knocked himself out (but held onto the ball). Two panels in right-center field at Tigue Moore had to be replaced after he hit the walls there. And, he made the best catch I've ever seen at FIU in 2005, running into the left-center gap and, diving parallel to the ground, made a backhand grab of a liner.

John Coker spent two years giving up his body for Cajuns' baseball. Recently, he gave up his body for all of us.

Sgt. John Coker was shot three times in Afghanistan, shattering one leg, and taking bullets in the other knee and pelvis. Three of his unit mates were killed in that skirmish. John has undergone surgery in Germany and is now in the hospital in San Antonio. He'll have to undergo extensive therapy and possibly more surgery. He'll basically need to learn to walk all over again.

If you're so inclined, please send up a prayer for him. He's a great young man.

(09-13-2011 09:52 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  If you follow baseball in our league, you might remember John Coker, who played for the Cajuns from 2004-05. In 2005, Coker led the league in runs scored (82) and triples (10). He also stole 29 bases and had 28 extra base hits, helping lead the Cajuns to a 48-19 record, the SBC regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Regionals.

But Coker was also one of the best defensive outfielders in Cajuns' history. He was known for his fearless tracking of the baseball and ran into fences to field balls more than once. At WKU in 2005, Coker hit the wall so hard in left-center he knocked himself out (but held onto the ball). Two panels in right-center field at Tigue Moore had to be replaced after he hit the walls there. And, he made the best catch I've ever seen at FIU in 2005, running into the left-center gap and, diving parallel to the ground, made a backhand grab of a liner.

John Coker spent two years giving up his body for Cajuns' baseball. Recently, he gave up his body for all of us.

Sgt. John Coker was shot three times in Afghanistan, shattering one leg, and taking bullets in the other knee and pelvis. Three of his unit mates were killed in that skirmish. John has undergone surgery in Germany and is now in the hospital in San Antonio. He'll have to undergo extensive therapy and possibly more surgery. He'll basically need to learn to walk all over again.

If you're so inclined, please send up a prayer for him. He's a great young man.

http://espn1420.com/from-the-birds-nest-...-for-real/

Coker was a great outfielder for the cajuns who could cover a lot of ground quickly. I will be praying for the speedy recovery for this great:patriot: American.

People still to this day yell "Coker would have got it" when there's a play just out of the reach of a outfielder for the other team. This is REALLY saddening to hear about John, especially knowing that he did it in the service for his country. I really hope he has a quick recovery.