By Marty Gordon
Former Christiansburg High School player Ian Perkins, who two years ago enrolled at Southwest Community College to play ball at the junior-college level, is fighting to retain his eyesight after a freak accident near the college campus.
According to reports, Perkins and several of his teammates were attending a bonfire event earlier this week when someone threw a bottle into the fire. It exploded, sending fragments flying.
Perkins was struck in an eye by the debris. He underwent emergency surgery at a Johnson City, Tenn., medical facility on Monday, and so far, his updated condition is not known.
This past summer in travel baseball, he batted .438 with five doubles, two triples, one home run, 25 RBIs, and 21 runs scored.
An outfielder and pitcher, Perkins has appeared in 15 games this season for SWCC and is batting.263 with one home run, three RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
