High school student recovers from broken neck, hits grand slam in his first varsity at bat

When Ryan Stewart broke his neck in a March 2011 baseball game, his family and friends were more concerned about his recovery than whether he would ever play baseball again. Two years to the day after that injury, Stewart hit a grand slam in his first Fallbrook High School varsity at-bat.

“One of the best moments I’ve had in coaching,” said Fallbrook varsity coach Mark DiBenedetti. “It brought tears to my eyes. I was so happy for him.”

Stewart was a freshman on Fallbrook’s junior varsity during the 2011 baseball season. On March 23, 2011, Stewart was playing catcher for the Warriors in a game...