Broken hand can’t keep ‘Hitter’ away

Master Hitter first baseman returns intime for season finale

The memories were there for Caitlin Beasley.

It was the same park, the same field and the same team. About a month ago, the last time the Master Hitters played the Flash in their U14 Lawrence Fast Pitch Association match-up, she broke her right hand.

The incident was on the players, parents and coaches minds on July 18 as the MasterHitters lost to the Flash, 12-11, in Beasley’s first game since the injury.

During the two team’s earlier meeting a month ago, Beasley said she didn’t even know her hand was broken at first.

Beasley was playing first base, as she did for most of the season. A member of the Flash hit the ball and and came running down the line. As Beasley caught the ball, the runner ran into her hand as she attempted to tag her out.

Beasley said it didn’t hurt much at all, so she and coach Michelle Karleskint decided she could continue batting and tending to defensive duties at first base.

Master Hitter Jasmyn Turner waits at home plate and smiles at comments from her teammates in the dugout on July 18 at Broken Arrow Park. The Master Hitters lost 12-11 to The Flash in both team's last game of the season in their U14 Lawrence Girls Fast Pitch match-up.

The Master Hitters’ first baseman batted in the next inning and after a solid hit she found herself on third base. The next play sent Beasley racing for home plate, where she was forced to slide.

“I slid at home and smacked it on the ground in the same spot,” Beasley said.

The play at the plate had done it. Beasley was unable continue the game.

“I couldn’t fit it in my glove because it was so swollen,” she said.

Beasley stopped playing and went to the doctor the next day. She said the doctor confirmed what she didn’t want to hear- she had broken her hand.

A few days later Beasley was wearing a cast. The forecast didn’t look good. She was told she had to wear the cast for at least five weeks.

That meant she would have to miss the rest of her season with the Master Hitters.

“I was really bummed out that I couldn’t play,” Beasley said. “I was out here for social reasons, it’s depressing I couldn’t get it (the cast) off.”

As the season was winding down with Beasley on the injured list, the family decided to take a vacation. Beasley and her family planned on leaving for the summer trip on the morning of July 19. The timing of the trip couldn’t have been better. Beasley got her cast off early at 4 p.m. on the day of the Hitters’ last game of the season.

“I got it off today,” Beasley said. “I went home for an hour and came to the game,”

Beasley didn’t hesitate to take advantage of her newfound freedom from the cast and played with her teammates for the final game of the season.

In the game on July 18 against the Flash, Beasley once again played first base, where she played as if she’d been there the entire season. But during the game, it almost seemed as if the entire scenario might repeat itself.

This time a Flash player didn’t run into Beasley’s hand, but she was making another run at home plate to score for her team. As she slid into home, Beasley’s arm went up under her, in nearly the same fashion as in the game that interrupted her season.

After a few tense moments, Beasley delivered the words of relief.

“I’m fine,” she yelled, before sprinting back to the dugout.

Her coach wasn’t so sure and insisted Beasley wiggle her fingers.

The fingers wiggled and everything was okay.

Later in the game, Beasley and teammate Kaley Tesdahl shared a laugh in the dugout. The laugh seemed to sum up what the broken arm had interrupted for Beasley.

“I realized how much I missed out,” Beasley said. “At first it didn’t bother me. But I missed lots of jokes in the outfield.”