If bad things come in threes, the Moose Jaw Miller Express hope they have had their allotment.
On the final play of the game Sunday Express batter Logan Lippert injured his knee running to first base. Monday while throwing batting practice, third baseman/pitcher Michael Tittle was hit by a line drive that went through the screen.
Finally in Monday’s game, shortstop Jon Cotter collided with centrefielder Ben Wylly and stayed down before finishing the game.
“With the exception of Spencer Dunlap we’ve gone fairly injury-free for the bulk of the summer. And it was a fluke that (Dunlap) didn’t have a more serious injury and wasn’t done for the entire year,” said Express head coach Michael Hunt.
“As far as arms, legs and ankles . . . we didn’t have anything until (Sunday) night and then it was boom-boom-boom. When it rains it pours, but hopefully we stopped the bleeding on that one.”
The news on Lippert was fairly positive considering how bad the play looked initially. It’s believed the Lippert hyper-extended his left knee and that he didn’t tear anything. He will see a specialist Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury and get an idea on a timeline for a possible return this season.
“I had a lot more pain than I expected. It’s just something that happens in baseball or in any sport for that matter,” said Lippert who was in a knee brace as he watched Monday’s game.
“Hopefully the news is good because I miss playing. It’s hard to watch and not be out there with them.”
It’s been a tough year for Lippert who missed his first season of college ball at New Mexico due to a blood clot in his chest.
“I’ve been accustomed to pain and injuries a lot these days,” said Lippert. “You’re thinking ‘where is my baseball career going to go from here if I keep getting hurt.’ I keep giving my parents gray hair all of the time.”
Tittle also received good news at hospital Monday where they reported he didn’t have a concussion.
“We had one of our players hitting in the cage during BP and a ball went through the net and squared him up right in the dome,” said Hunt. “He just came back (from the hospital) and they say he doesn’t have a concussion . . . but he’ll definitely be out for a couple of days.”
Cotter ran deep into centre field to try to make a play on a fly ball, but instead collided with Wylly and then landed on his head. Though he finished the game, Hunt said he may miss Tuesday’s game due to a charley horse he picked up on the play.
