MONTGOMERY, Ala. – There have been prayers and support from Southwest Virginia to Alabama where the husband and father of two of Tuesday's Pittsylvania County triple murder victims plays minor league baseball.
On Thursday, members of the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team shared how they're supporting pitcher and Danville native Blake Bivens.
Morgan Ensberg, the Biscuits' manager said they're doing everything they can to be there for Blake.
Ensberg described how he's gone through bouts of crying and not understanding how something so terrible could happen to a man his team describes as an amazing person and an incredible teammate.
Ensberg said the team was getting ready to play on the road in Tennessee when Bivens got the devastating news that both his wife, Emily, and son, Cullen, had been killed.
Watch Thursday's full news conference
Ensberg, as well as other team staff, accompanied him home to Virginia.
Ryan Thompson, one of Bivens' teammates, said for Blake, family was everything.
"Baseball is not who we are, it's what we do and Blake knew that. Blake knew that better than anybody and he didn't talk about 'Oh, I have to do this, I have to perform, I have to get to the big leagues.' He was like 'I have to be a good father. I have to be a good husband. I have to be a good friend.' And that's what he was concerned with on the daily," said Thompson.
Both the Montgomery Biscuits and their Major League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Rays, plan to honor the Bivens family.
The Biscuits plan to raise money for Blake through a jersey auction.
Also, the team plans to wear patches on their uniforms for the rest of the season with the letters BIV, in honor of Emily and Cullen Bivens.
The Biscuits will hold a moment of silence before Thursday night's game, the team's first game since Blake's wife and son were killed.
The Rays will also hold a moment of silence before their home game Friday night.
"This is a reminder that we all have family and we all have loved ones and that in split seconds, your life could be completely upended. There's not a single person in there thinking about baseball. There's not a single person up here thinking about baseball," said Ensburg.
The Biscuits said they're also making arrangements for anyone in the organization who wants to attend this Saturday's services for Blake's family.