Holy Cross pitcher Bradley Bornhorn not slowed down by spina bifida
· Yahoo Sports
Bradley Bornhorn's first varsity start came against Beechwood on April 22. The Holy Cross senior gave up six hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings, but it was his willpower that his teammates, coaches and opposition admired.
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"I was determined to get out of those jams that I was in and really just do the best I could for the team," Bornhorn said.
Born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord fails to close completely during pregnancy and infancy, Bornhorn epitomized perseverance in his two seasons on the Indians' baseball team. He is one of six recipients of the Cincinnati Enquirer's 2026 Courage Award, presented at the High School Sports Awards show on June 16.
Bradley Bornhorn has never settled
Bornhorn had surgery to seal his spinal cord one day after being born, then had another procedure in 2020 to repair his spinal cord tether.
"When we first found out ‒ and he's the youngest of four ‒ you never want to hear anything is different with your kids or wrong or whatever, and there were just a lot of unknowns before he was even born. As he was growing up, there was a lot of, 'How's he going to do this or that?' You could just see him sitting there watching his siblings and friends, and he was just gonna figure out how to do it. He always just sat there and watched and the next thing you know, he was right there in the mix with them. He's always been a determined kid and he's always wanted to be a part of the group," Bradley's mother, Stephanie, said.
Growing up, he played soccer for a short period of time but didn't like it, partially because it involved a lot of running. Spina bifida affects the sensory and motor neurons in the lower body, so Bornhorn never quite had the musculature that soccer requires. He also can't feel pain below his knees.
Born into a baseball-loving family in a baseball town, he frequented Great American Ball Park and gained an admiration for Reds pitchers like Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani and Hunter Greene. That love for the sport continued as he took the diamond at an early age.
"My parents have really given me everything I need to be able to excel. My coaches have been really good about watching me and knowing what my limits are," Bradley said.
His father, Josh, added: "He's exceeded every expectation that I've ever wanted for him. I try not to set lofty goals for my kids because everybody's their own person and I want them to do whatever they want to do."
Bradley Bornhorn has been a workhorse for Holy Cross baseball
Holy Cross baseball coach Rob Weremeling first met Bradley when he was in sixth grade and Wermeling was coaching Ben Bornhorn, who was a sophomore at the time.
"He's always been determined, always been a good teammate and gives absolutely 100 percent every day, every time," Wermeling said.
Bornhorn brought a different perspective to the Indians' pitching staff. He wears braces on his lower legs and has limited ankle flexibility, leading to an adapted delivery and decreased velocity. He made up for it with his core strength and creativity on the mound.
"He knows how to locate pitches. He knew that he wasn't going to blow the ball by anybody so he would pitch to contact," Wermeling said. "There were times early in his career where he might have gotten hit a little bit but that never deterred him from trying to do something that he wasn't capable of doing, which speaks to his character."
For as much as the baseball program has welcomed Bradley, the Bornhorn family has just as much love for Holy Cross, Wermeling and pitching coach Andy Roenker. Bradley believes that he couldn't have had the career that he did or be embraced by his teammates at any other school.
"He was the name they would yell if a pitcher was struggling on the mound. It was, 'Brad, go get ready.' and it wasn't even a second thought. To hear that while being on the bench keeping the book was the biggest compliment they could ever give me," Josh said.
Wermeling added: "One of our mottos that we go by is 'Holy Cross is a place for all.' We're very open to everybody who walks in the doors at Holy Cross and I think that Bradley shows that is truly is a place for all."
This fall, Bradley will attend Northern Kentucky University with the hopes of becoming a Major League Baseball broadcaster, continuing his dream while not letting his condition slow him down.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Holy Cross' Bradley Bornhorn a 2026 Courage Award recipient