'Field of Dreams' powers float

Jace Hart, Cole Pinther and Cappy Gilbert have a lot in common.

The boys attend Minden Elementary School, they love sports and they're best friends with Joey Jacobsen.

It's that loyalty that brought them together with about a dozen other kids this week to create a float for the annual Parade of Lights on Saturday that honors their 10-year-old friend who remains in a coma two weeks after a woodcutting accident.

"We're trying to get the community to say, 'Hey, Joey, you can do this,'" Cole said. "We believe in you and we're waiting for you to come back to school and play with us."

The boys have been kept up-to-date on Joey's progress through Caring Bridge, a nonprofit Web site where friends can keep tabs on his recovery and leave messages.

"Our whole entire class is watching it," Cole said. "We check in with him a lot. I think he knows."

Joey was critically injured Nov. 22 in Markleeville when a tree fell on him during a woodcutting trip with his father and a family friend.

He's remained in an induced coma, but family members said doctors hope to begin trying to awaken him this weekend.

Jace, who has been friends with Joey since first grade, said the theme of the float is "Field of Dreams."

Joey plays Little League baseball for the Pirates and was the bat boy for Douglas High School.

"We're going to have a baseball strip, stadium lights and corn stalks like the movie," Jace said. "We're going to be on the float tossing rubber baseballs with Joey's name on them along the route."

Cappy said he missed his friend.

"It's sad," he said. "School is sort of not the same. The Web site is pretty cool. Anyone can see how he's doing and people are writing a lot of good things about him."

The boys are cheered by any news of Joey's recovery " when he moves, or responds to touch.

"He's going to be back soon, even if he has to go to a rehabilitation center," Cappy said.

Jace and Cole have visited Joey at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

"At first, it was really drastic and sad, but I have a lot of faith," Cole said. "I've seen him getting better and I think he's really heard the message to keep fighting."

Jace said he is looking forward to the day Joey will be able to finish the fort they were building in the Jacobsens' back yard before the accident.

"We play football and basketball together," Jace said. "He likes to hang out with his friends and be part of something."

Cole said he values Joey's loyalty.

"He's always ready to jump up and do something. He has an ability to think outside the box," Cole said. "He likes to have fun."

The boys hope the community turns out for the parade that starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at Lampe Park and ends at Minden Park.

"We're asking everybody to pray for Joey and visit his Web site. His mom reads some of the messages to him," Cappy said. "We don't like people saying things that are rumors or not positive. He's doing better and we all believe."