Minnesota baseball is feeling it

I got this email through the league I umpire in with the City of St. Paul. I didn't know the guy, but I know a lot of people who do.

It is with extreme sorrow and sadness that we announce Sport/Spine's longtime pitcher/3rd Basemen Pat Holmes was involved in the 35W bridge collapse and has been confirmed as one of the fatalities. The St. Paul Baseball community extends our thoughts and prayers to the Holmes's family. Pat was an accomplished ballplayer that represented Sport/Spine and St. Paul with class and dignity. More importantly, Pat will be remembered as a great family man, and friend.

Here's another post from this morning in an online baseball forum.

Pat Holmes, known by most as Homer, died in yesterdays bridge accident. Pat retired from Sport and Spine (SSC) following the 2006 season after many years of service. Pat was always the heart of our team and will be missed by all who played with him over the years.

Please put his wife and 2 young children, along with the rest of his family and friends in your thought and prayers.

Many of you may have seen the school bus with 60 kids that was on the bridge when it collapsed and went down with it. A coworker of mine has a daughter who was on that bus. She's okay, as are most of the kids who were on the bus (last I heard two were critical).