John Monday didn’t think he’d ever play baseball again.
The doubts began to form after his seventh-grade year, when Monday endured a terrifying mountain-biking accident.
“I was hitting a little double and went straight over the bars,” said Monday. “I flew and landed straight on my collarbone.”
That collarbone turned out to be broken, and after surgery to repair it, Monday noticed he was struggling with the normal mechanics of throwing a baseball.
“I tried to come back [to baseball], and it just wasn’t the same,” said Monday. “I was pitching at the time of the accident, and when I tried it again, it just didn’t feel right.”
But Monday is a self-described intense competitor. He needed an outlet to turn to after giving up baseball.
So, Monday decided to pick up a golf club.
“I figured I’d try golf,” said Monday. “I actually went out and shot a [nine-hole] round, and scored a 40 on my first try. So I thought, okay, I may actually be pretty good at this.”
Turns out, Monday was better than just “pretty good” at golf. He joined Greer High’s golf team shortly after his accident and has been on the team for six years. He has been an All-Region golfer three of the last four years.
Now a senior, he’s been the Jackets’ top guy since his eighth-grade season.
“John has been so huge for us on the golf course,” said Greer head golf coach Tracy Miller. “I remember when he was 12 years old, his father sent me a video of him playing and asked if I thought John could make it in golf. I said, ‘Don’t even ask, just bring him out here, and let’s see what he can do.’”
This senior year is a bit different for Monday, however. He’s in a rather unique position.
Monday is pulling double duty, playing both golf and baseball. He’s the Jackets’ No. 1 on the golf course, and he moonlights as a relief pitcher for the baseball team.
After realizing he could once again throw the baseball like he used to — before his mountain-biking accident — Monday decided he wanted to give baseball one more try as a senior. He doesn't plan on playing either sport in college. Monday is, however, using his busy schedule to prepare for a collegiate workload.
“Everybody who I talked to about it told me I was going to be super busy,” said Monday, laughing. “And they were right. But I wanted to see if I could do it, and that way, as I’m heading into college, it will teach me not to be lazy.”
On a normal day, Monday practices bullpen throwing starting at around 415. He’ll toss the ball for about 20-30 minutes before driving up to Greer Country Club to practice with the golf team.
Monday’s situation — playing two sports in one season — is one that only works due to his status as a PO (Pitcher Only). His baseball practice times and throwing times are significantly shorter than the rest of the team’s, as he’s solely a relief pitcher. For other sports and other positions, it wouldn't be logistically possible.
“I sat down with [head golf coach] Tracy Miller at the beginning of the season, and we kind of mapped it all out,” said Greer head baseball coach Keith Scruggs. “When he’s needed for golf, that’s top priority. We take him when we can get him, since he’s a PO. He’s someone who may not throw a ton of innings on the mound, but someone we can trust to eat a couple of innings here and there.”
Monday says he missed the brotherhood that comes with baseball and wanted to spend his final season back on the team with some of his best friends.
“Being able to connect with my boys, that’s always been such a huge thing for me,” said Monday. “And honestly, a lot of my closest friends are actually baseball guys. Being able to connect with them this season has been amazing."
With both golf and baseball winding down for Monday, he has high aspirations for both. He’s aiming to qualify for and make a run at a state title in golf.
In baseball, there’s a chance he could get the ball late in Friday night’s region championship game vs. Seneca. Greer baseball hasn’t won a region title since 1989.
And if the ball does fall into Monday’s hands, he’ll be more than ready.
“I’ll put it this way. I’ve always been able to find my competitive edge more in baseball,” said Monday. “Even after not playing baseball for so long, I came back and still had that same competitive edge.
“I love both sports, but I get way more nervous if it’s the last hole of a tournament as opposed to if I’m coming in to close a baseball game. Baseball is just where that competitive edge comes in.”
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