ENCINITAS (CBS 8) - A star high school baseball player remains hospitalized Monday after a head-on crash over the weekend.
Nineteen-year-old Conrad Murphy was on his way to practice Saturday when a truck swerved into his lane and slammed into his truck.
Clark Murphy is clinging to hope as his brother fights for his life at Palomar Medical Center.
"They basically said there is a chance he'll never wake up. You know, there's also that chance he will come back to normal," Clark said.
The Valley Center High School senior was critically injured on his way to baseball practice Saturday morning on Highway 76 in a head-on crash. The CHP says 33-year-old David Misa of Oceanside was behind the wheel of the Corky's Pest Control truck. He claims he lost traction in the rear wheels before veering into oncoming traffic and colliding with Conrad's silver Dodge Ram.
"He has a broken neck, a broken pelvis, a punctured lung, and cuts all over his body," Clark said. "The biggest concern is keeping his ICP - his inner cerebral pressure - in his head low, nder 20. And I was just in there and it's at 18 or 19 right now."
Murphy is a star pitcher and outfielder for the Jaguars, and is missing out on the team's first matchup since spring break against San Dieguito High School.
You know, the mood is kind of somber. It's been 48 hours now, and everybody has been to school today and I think it's really hitting these young guys you know the seriousness of it has kind of taken over," coach Cliff Bernard said.
Each player is now sporting a number 9 decal on their helmet in hopes of channeling Murphy's winning spirit.
"Some of them are wearing them on their hats and their helmets, and it's just our way of bringing him to the field with us and kind of keeping him in our hearts," Bernard said.
Bernard says the Fallbrook resident has an incredible work ethic, something he learned from his older brother Clark, who's now a minor league player for the Texas Rangers. Both men say Conrad dreamed of going pro, but with those dreams now in jeopardy, the focus now is on his recovery.
"If he never picks up a baseball bat again, I could care less. Tight now, I just want him to get healthy," Clark said.
The entire baseball team will be making its way to Palomar Medical Center after Monday night's game to be with Conrad and his family, and they're certainly planning on celebrating a big win in his honor.
