Softball coaching tip - use your glove
Over six years ago, on July 17, 2006 in Carp there was a GOFL regular season game between I4C Victory and West Carleton Electric. It was memorable for a few reasons: Bud Hanlon hit a home run (possibly his only HR in GOFL play); Shawn "Pugger" Williams pinch ran (seriously); and a guy that had recently started a fastball blog destroyed the ring finger on his right hand.
It was a weird reaction play - a line drive hit just to the right of the right fielder (who if you haven't guessed yet was me) and since he was unable to get his glove over in time, he (OK, I) extended the bare hand over to stop the ball.
While the ball was not caught, it was knocked down and the hitter (pretty sure it was Brooks Paziuk) was held to first instead of the ball going to the fence for an extra base hit. So it seemed like a good idea at the time, since the hand hurt, but didn't seem that bad. In fact, since WC Electric only had nine guys that night, the aforementioned right fielder stayed in the game and even hit a double later in the match.
It hurt a bit afterward, but after a few pints it felt fine. A full story was submitted to the blog so typing was not impacted.
But later that night, the ring finger on the right hand started hurting badly. A trip to the ER the next day revealed that the knuckle was totally destroyed with bone fragments everywhere.
The digit healed with a 45 degree angle bend and became known affectionately as the 'trick finger' by the Caveman.
Multiple surgeries ensued. First, one to remove the bone fragments, then a procedure to completely remove the knuckle and insert a prosthetic plastic joint (I prefer the term "bionic") and then a third - and hopefully final - surgery this week to repair tendon damage.
Pro coaching tip for all you kids out there - using your frigging glove! I am going to save this photo to scare Fitzroy Junior and his teammates accordingly (warning: the photo is kind of gross; you have been warned.)
It was a weird reaction play - a line drive hit just to the right of the right fielder (who if you haven't guessed yet was me) and since he was unable to get his glove over in time, he (OK, I) extended the bare hand over to stop the ball.
While the ball was not caught, it was knocked down and the hitter (pretty sure it was Brooks Paziuk) was held to first instead of the ball going to the fence for an extra base hit. So it seemed like a good idea at the time, since the hand hurt, but didn't seem that bad. In fact, since WC Electric only had nine guys that night, the aforementioned right fielder stayed in the game and even hit a double later in the match.
It hurt a bit afterward, but after a few pints it felt fine. A full story was submitted to the blog so typing was not impacted.
But later that night, the ring finger on the right hand started hurting badly. A trip to the ER the next day revealed that the knuckle was totally destroyed with bone fragments everywhere.
The digit healed with a 45 degree angle bend and became known affectionately as the 'trick finger' by the Caveman.
Multiple surgeries ensued. First, one to remove the bone fragments, then a procedure to completely remove the knuckle and insert a prosthetic plastic joint (I prefer the term "bionic") and then a third - and hopefully final - surgery this week to repair tendon damage.
Pro coaching tip for all you kids out there - using your frigging glove! I am going to save this photo to scare Fitzroy Junior and his teammates accordingly (warning: the photo is kind of gross; you have been warned.)
Labels: GOFL
posted by fitzroyfastball | 11/07/2012 12:11:00 am
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