JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Usually starting pitchers take the mound once every five days. Brian Holcomb had to wait 17 years.
The Navy veteran of multiple tours overseas in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Africa, and more, the 34-year old Holcomb got to live out a dream of starting a division one baseball game. Even though he only faced one batter and gave up a base hit, it was something that Holcomb will never forget.
"It was an emotional experience but I had fun with it," Holcomb said after the Dolphins 5-3 loss to Georgia Southern. "I thought about my family, I thought about these guys that rally around me, and that's what it was about for me."
Holcomb, who is working towards a degree in nursing, earning the nickname "Doc." last started a game 17 years ago as a high school senior at Mason High School in Michigan. He said afterwards that he had to channel some advice from his old coach.
"My coach used to tell me that you have to go to the mound with ice water in your veins and that's what I did tonight."
His current coach, Tim Montez said even though the box score will read zero innings pitched and one hit given up for Holcomb, all of Jacksonville are winners because of what "Doc" brings to the team every day.
"It was exciting, it was good for not only JU but for college baseball, and we just appreciate the service he has put in in representing our country and we couldn't be happier for him.