A misty-eyed Scott Bonar said 19 years ago, he and wife Veronica were scared parents not sure of the future of their 16 day old baby, "Doctors at Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital hadn't heard of a baby with whooping cough surviving."

His son Brandon fought and overcame the tough obstacle "and here he's signing a letter to play baseball."

Brandon Bonar says he has had contact with Shawnee State since his sophomore year and left little doubt where he'd be headed for school. It's an extra that he gets to play baseball.

Cavs Baseball Coach Marty Dunn described Bonar as a pitcher who "doesn't possess a lot of velocity, but he could hit his spots and throw strikes. He's a kid I will always remember that loves the game. I admire his desire and dedication to the game." Dunn added Bonar became a strong player "and is stronger as a student."

Bonar's mother Veronica told of her son's difficulty with grades early on in high school which led to ineligibility his freshman year. But a teammate urged him to be a part of the team an "keep the book" to which she credits what has led to his turnaround in the classroom.

Bonar will likely be a bullpen pitcher for Shawnee State. Bonar added "You don't have to be the best, but they put people in the right position and that's what I want to do." He plans to major in Athletic Training and minor in Physical Education.

Click to hear Dan Ramey's interview with Bonar.