Leopards’ Collin Evans’ comeback: From injury to walk-off hero

TEXARKANA, TX (KTAL/KMSS) —Liberty-Eylau’s Collin Evans continues to be a staple in the dugout, whether it was on last year’s state championship team, this year in the lineup, or even when he was briefly sidelined due to injury.

“He’s come a long way since he was a freshman here for us,” head coach Zach Fowler said. “Four years, watching him work and get better. It’s been a lot of fun and this is definitely the best I’ve seen him play this year so far.”

Evans’ hard work as a Leopard has paid off. Earning him a spot as one of the most reliable ones in the lineup and helping the team to a state title last season.

“It felt great, especially the night after,” Evans said. “But you already know [Fowler], as soon as we got back he was ready to get another one, so we all shifted our focus towards that.”

Evans and the Leopards were hungry for this season to start and claim another state title. But in the first game of the season, one at-bat changed Evans plans. A broken hand would throw a small wrench in how Evans envisioned the season.

“I really didn’t think it was broke until I got to the hospital and it kept getting worse and worse,” Evans said.

But he was still a part of the team.

“He would do things at practice, he would feed the machine, he’d help pick up stuff, run film for us during games, a lot of things people wouldn’t see,” Fowler said. “But he stayed involved and he stayed locked in.”

Just a little over a month later, Evans is already back.

“At first, I knew I was gonna come back but I thought it was gonna be a little bit longer than it actually was,” Evans said. “I was a little worried I wasn’t going to be able to play most of the season but thankfully I got to comeback pretty early.”

Back and making a difference.

“You’re back in the lineup as soon as you’re ready,” Fowler said. “He got three days of practice before that Ashdown game. I think he had a hit and a flyout deep, had really good cuts. We were ready to get him back and he’s helped us do a really good job.”

In last week’s victory over Atlanta, Evans had the walk-off hit.

“It felt great being my second game back and being able to impact my team in that way it felt great,” Evans said.

Now, Evans looks to continue helping his team throughout the rest of the season in search of another state title.