It would be easy to forgive Aaron Cyr for being less than optimistic about life.
A birth-related complication resulted in the amputation of his left foot and ankle shortly after he was born, and his mom died suddenly when he was 9.
Too much, too soon for any milltown kid, but at least in baseball Cyr has found a place to escape — and to thrive.
Whether he’s pitching or catching, he’s winning this spring— helping Stearns go 14-2 record and finish second in Eastern Maine Class C.
“Baseball has been my way out, the thing that picks me up,” said Cyr. “When I feel down, I go play baseball and I feel better.”
Few opposing players and fans would know Cyr wears a prosthesis from just below his left knee down by watching him crouch behind the plate or follow through on the mound.
The righthander’s pitching record — 4-1 with a 2.80 earned run average — is impressive enough, but as well as Cyr has pitched his coach believes he’s even an even better receiver.
“It’s not like he’s a good player with a hardship, he’s just a good player,” said Stearns coach Brandon Portwine. “He’s really good at blocking balls behind the plate and throwing out runners. He’s also good at calling pitches and calling out plays, really just being a leader out there. He’s the backbone of our defense, and I’m sure I’m biased, but I think he’s the best defensive catcher I’ve seen this year.”
Cyr said he favors neither pitching nor catching more than he loves merely living and learning the game from day to day.
“I like both positions,” said Cyr, who hopes to coach once his playing days end. “Both are right in the middle of things, and I like the pressure. I like all the details, too, I like the mental part of the game. I think about it 24-7.”
Cyr does make some minor accommodations to circumstance — like no pop-up slides into second base — and he admits he isn’t the fastest runner on the team.
But little gets in the way of Cyr pursuing success on the diamond in an aggressive, confident way.
“The fact he wears a prosthesis has never figured in a coaching decision at all,” said Portwine.
While Cyr has worn an artificial limb virtually since birth, his baseball upbringing was remarkably normal.
“My dad and mom used to coach softball, so I just went out and started playing and never really stopped,” he said.
He eventually joined Little League and moved up the ranks not as a player with a disability but as a player — an attitude he’s maintains in high school.
“I don’t let it get me down,” Cyr said. “I just go out and play.”
His father continues to be a major influence on his baseball career.
“My dad pretty much keeps me going,” said Cyr. “He taught me a lot about the game, and we talk about baseball 24-7.”
His mom also continues to provide support, often when he needs it most.
“If I’m out on the mound and I’m struggling,” Cyr said, “I’ll look up at the sky and think about her for a moment. It helps get me back up and going again.”
Fortunately for Cyr, the struggles this spring have been few — perhaps a tiny bit of payback for a childhood tested to its limits.
“He’s just so physically and mentally well-adjusted to everything, he doesn’t spend time feeling sorry for himself,” said Portwine. “He doesn’t want special treatment.
“With all the adversity he’s faced, he’s definitely a kid to root for.”