After months of recovery from two major injuries, Mount Dora Christian Academy freshman Colton Gardener returned to the field in a big way, hitting two home runs in his comeback game.

Colton has played baseball since the age of three. Over the past year, his love for the game has been tested in ways few young athletes ever experience.

In January 2025, Colton was enjoying the excitement of the College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta when everything suddenly changed. While participating in a fan 40-yard dash, he fell just before the finish line. The fall resulted in a fractured pelvis, with a piece of bone torn along with his hamstring.

For nine long months, Colton worked to regain strength, mobility and confidence, fully committing himself to rehabilitation. By October 2025, he was finally cleared to return to the sport he never stopped loving.

“The game isn’t just something he does, it’s part of who he is,” Colton’s mother says.

But just as his comeback began, another setback followed. In November 2025, while sprinting toward first base, Colton fell and couldn’t get back up. He suffered a severe compound fracture, with his knee and tibia breaking through the skin.

It was another moment that could have ended his season, but Colton was determined to return. In his welcome-back game against Foundation Academy on Friday night, he hit two home runs—one for each injury.

“Through pain, setbacks and uncertainty, I have shown a level of strength like no other,” he says. “I have leaned into faith, family, and my passion for baseball.”

Colton is a member of Senior Beta, an academic honors club, and maintains a 3.85 GPA while also working a part-time job. He has set goals to be coachable, serve as a role model for younger teammates, stay defensively consistent, and continue improving at the plate and in the weight room.

When he’s not on the field, he enjoys avid fishing. He is currently batting .462.

One of Colton’s favorite quotes comes from Arnold Schwarzenegger, which says “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”