Hannah, also a talented volleyball player, was in her first weekend meeting and practicing with her new team but had to be hospitalized after she broke her collar bone, multiple ribs and cheek bones as well as receiving a concussion and severe road rash in the accident.

The sophomore would subsequently need surgery, several days of recovery in the hospital and what Coach Fusetti described as “tons of physical therapy.”

What helped jump start the recovery, however, and the sooner-than-expected return to the playing fields for Hannah was a surprise visit from her head coach the week after the accident when the Carolina Elite team was far away competing in the Finesse Invitational in Sylvania, Ohio the weekend of October 16-17, 2023.

“I have an amazing crazy coach!” the athlete laughs, “as she shocked me when she showed up at my doorstep after the team’s first tournament they played in Ohio.”

 Fusetti didn’t go straight home after the Midwestern event, but instead stopped by the Evans home to let her newest player know she was thinking of her.

“I loved the surprised look her and her mother had on their faces!” Fusetti recalls. “It was definitely a longer detour than I anticipated, but it was well worth it, and I would do it all over again.”

The recovery certainly wasn’t easy and required many hours of grueling treatments, therapy and workouts, but, amazingly, one month after the terrible accident, Hannah was back in the batting cages working hard again.

Today, I had my first hitting session with @OutlawsHoffner after about a month of being out due to an accident. Feels great to get back on the grind! I can’t wait to get back on the field with my team! @EliteFusetti @UofL_CoachHolly @coach_kgreen @CoachSchuette @CoachMFrezzotti pic.twitter.com/t0L68aVk3N

— Hannah Evans (@HannahEvans0724) December 3, 2023

And just two months later, Hannah was cleared to play and competed in a PGF Qualifier in Gainesville, Fla. the weekend of January 13-14, 2024.

 It was an exciting return to the fields not just for Hannah and her family, but for the entire Carolina Elite coaching staff, consisting of Fusetti and assistant coaches Adam Justice, and James Keller and pitching specialists Marlesse Schlott-Hames and Jim Moats, as well as the entire roster of players, who appreciated what it took for their teammate to return.

“When Hannah was cleared to play,” Fusetti remembers, “she was more appreciative and driven than one could ever imagine, and it definitely brought the team closer together.”

“The way all the parents and the players rallied behind those that were injured was unbelievable and the support they gave Hannah—maintaining contact with her throughout the entire fall when she was unable to be with us—also was very touching.  It was a very scary situation and we were definitely reminded that you can’t take anything for granted.”

Fusetti was quick to add how impressed she was with the other seriously injured athlete, Savannah Maier, whose head cut required five staples to close.

“I learned a lot about Savannah, my 2025 catcher from Cali,” the club coach continues.

“She is an absolute bulldog and ended up missing the first tournament and was recommended not to be at the second tournament, but nevertheless showed up and did her thing.  Savannah’s personality was phenomenal including the way she supported Hannah when she herself was in so much pain. It was so amazing.”

Today, all the athletes are back and playing again including the worst injured who says she learned a lot about herself—and those around her—going through such a scary and painful set of injuries.

“Going through these circumstances,” Hannah begins, “has taught me that I should never take playing for granted and sometimes we do have to face challenges.”

 

“Now I am playing high school softball and I feel stronger mentally and physically. The doctors have told me that I am 100 percent cleared and I won’t have to worry about any of these things affecting me again.”

 

“During the process of the recovery, I was told that I wouldn’t need surgery and then was told a few weeks later I would have to get facial reconstruction. This really took a toll on my mental health because I was worried and so anxious because I had never had surgery before.”

 

“Coach Dana continued to check in on me which made me feel like more than just a player for her; she really cares about all of us having success and to not let obstacles stand in our way.” 

 

 “This event has definitely had an effect on the team and me. It has brought us all closer and taught us to appreciate every opportunity we have.  I was really upset to lose the Fall season because, being a 2026 grad, this is my big recruiting year.”

 

“Nevertheless, I know God has a plan for me and I will continue to work to obtain my dream of playing college softball and be an asset to whatever program is the best fit for me.”

 

“Also, overcoming adversity like this has definitely taught me many lessons and I’ve found inner strength that I never knew I had before.”

— Brentt Eads, Line Drive Softball

*****

Here’s bonus material from Hannah on her thoughts about her club team, her injury and what she’s learned from the scary ordeal…

Joining Carolina Elite…

I think coming on to this team was honestly one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I’ve been taught to push myself past limits I normally wouldn’t.

The support and encouragement I have received from the team has been staggering.

Immediate reaction to the golf cart accident…

My first time practicing and meeting with the team as a whole quickly turned into an accident I would have never imagined. While being transported in the ambulance I found myself sitting next to God and being told everything was going to work out.

When I woke up in the hospital it felt like a dream. It all happened so quickly, and I did not know what to do. I was alone with my mom eight hours away from home trying to figure out how I could make things go back to normal.

I tried to hide my emotions and accept the circumstances while staying positive. I had so many emotions that I wasn’t ready to express and not only did my Mom help me but Coach Dana gave me so much comfort and encouragement to stay strong. I prayed every night and day for things to go back to normal.

Lessons learned

As I traveled home, I had a long ride to reflect on all the things that happened in the span of a day. The uncertainty of when or even if I would ever be able to play my sport again, all of the sadness, despair, anger and, of course, pain that I was feeling did not compare to anything I’ve felt before.

Nobody will ever be able to understand how I felt during these injuries. I couldn’t hide how I looked but I could hide how I felt. All that mattered to me is that I didn’t let anyone see me weak. I lived in fear of the future because of what happened in the past and almost lost what was in the present. I prayed every day and night for things to go back to normal.

I woke up every day to realize that I physically could not put in 100 percent to my sport or my normal lifestyle. As my recovery process continued, I started to gain hope, determination and trust in myself that I would become an even better player than before. I lived in fear for so long because of what happened in my past that I was not ready for the future.

As I watched my teammates play, I learned not to compare myself to them but to compare myself to the person I was just a month ago, a lost teenage girl who had no idea what the outcome of this setback would be.

It was at that moment I realized my favorite part of the game was the opportunity to play. It showed me that not only is an injury a process of recovery but also a process of discovery.

I woke up every day to realize that I physically could not put in 100 percent to my sport or my normal lifestyle.

As my recovery process continued, I started to gain hope, determination and trust in myself that I would become an even better player than before. I lived in fear for so long because of what happened in my past that I was not ready for the future.

Returning to play

In January I stepped on the field for the first time since the accident.

All of the training and constant work had given me hope that I would come back better than ever and stronger than I was before. I’m so glad that not only am I stronger mentally but I also am living a healthy lifestyle.

I’m incredibly thankful and blessed to be fully recovered and ready to continue my softball career.

Advice to others with injuries

This experience has shown me that an injury is not just a process of recovery, it is also a possibility for discovery.

After overcoming all of my injuries and having surgery, I not only gained back my strength but gained my confidence and contentment.

Rather than comparing myself to others that were playing I started comparing myself to who I was just months ago, I was a lost teenage girl who had no idea how far I would have come in two months.

Thank you so much @TopGunEvents for personally inviting me to the 2024 Top Gun Invitational National Elite Showcase on June 12th! I’m so blessed to have this opportunity! @EliteFusetti @UofL_CoachHolly @OutlawsHoffner @CoachSchuette @coach_kgreen pic.twitter.com/Lv3agZBqor

— Hannah Evans (@HannahEvans0724) March 8, 2024

Appreciating now and future plans

In the future, I will be playing college softball and look to be an even stronger asset to the program I go to. I’ll also be studying Exercise Science. I am incredibly thankful and blessed to be back to myself and living a healthy lifestyle.

I am proud of myself for pushing through things a lot of people would not have been able to. This injury has made it visible that I should never take softball for granted and sometimes we must face challenges.

My success in this journey has shown me many blessings that I may have never realized. 

The sacrifices my parents have made in their continuous love and support is what has helped me become a stronger person I am.

My support of my teammates and Coach Dana has been unwavering. I have an amazing crazy coach, she shocked me when she showed up at my doorstep after the team’s first tournament they played in Ohio.  Coach is tough, but I don’t know any other coach who loves her players as much as she does.