Sanger teen shot in the eye gets back on the softball field

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Three months to the day a 16-year-old Sanger girl ended up caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting. Brianna Ramirez only has one eye but it's not stopping her from getting back on the field.

Behind every hit and every pitch, every practice and every game, inspiration lingers on this field.

"I think without her in our thoughts we wouldn't be able to get as far as we are today," Brianna's teammate Hallie Gonzalez

Tuesday is the first day of playoffs for the Sanger Apaches varsity softball team. It's also the three month anniversary of when infielder Ramirez was shot in the face.

"When I was in the hospital I didn't think I was going to play again," said Ramirez.

She was caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting. She now only has one eye. But you'd never know when you see her take the mound for the first pitch of an important game.

"They don't worry about their individual stats it's how you can make your team better. And Brianna is a real inspiration behind that," Sanger Apaches softball coach Erica Pennington.

Watching a playoff game from the dugout isn't easy for Brianna. She's learning how to play with one eye and she knows it'll take time.

"I have to earn my spot back. So if I have to put that challenge back in my head to make myself better than that's what it'll do," said Ramirez.

Her goal is to be back on the field by summer. So she can play varsity next year.