Outfielder Harley Ash earned the Most Improved Player award for Phoenix Christian High’s baseball team in 2011.

This year, he probably should get the Spirit Award.

On Friday (March 16), he had an exploratory medical procedure to determine whether a growth in his neck was cancerous.

Thankfully, it was not.

While others might have spent the rest of the day recuperating at home, Ash just couldn’t stay away from his baseball brothers. He was in the stands, wearing a neck brace, sunglasses and cap and cheering the Cougars on to a 10-0 victory over Phoenix Country Day School.

Too often, we seem to hear more about the missteps that young people make rather than saluting their pursuits and their courage.

Ash deserves a tip of the cap for the courage to face a serious situation head-on. Here’s hoping that he gets back on the field very soon.