Wake Forest-Rolesville Baseball Player Shows Extra Effort in Face of Father's Illness

Bunn is also a star in the classroom with 3.9 GPA.

"He's a model student," says teacher Gary Dement. "He has the respect of other students and I think that he has his own self-motivation."

His coach says Bunn is one heck of a student-athlete.

"He's got a great arm, really a great throwing arm. He's got a lot of power. Really, he can play both in the field and he's a real good hitter," says coach Ronnie Peoples.

Peoples says Bunn has a lot of character and is a great leader, especially during a season that has been very tough.

Earlier this year Bunn's father, who instilled in him a love of baseball, suffered a heart attack.

He admits it was tough to concentrate with his father so sick.

"He's been at just about every baseball game I've ever had, and it's been real hard looking over here in the stands and not seeing him out here, cheering for me and helping me out and everything," Bunn says.

As difficult as it may have been, his coach says Bunn has handled himself well.

"He's gone through some really tough times at home with his dad and he's just been a trooper," Peoples says. "He's been to practice every day. He comes out here every day with a good attitude."

Bunn says things are getting easier.

"He's getting better now, it's become a little easier, knowing that he's getting better. He'll be out here next year probably," he says.

Greg Bunn is this week's winner of the Extra Effort Award. Tom Suiter's Extra Effort award airs Wednesdays during WRAL's 6:00 News.

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