RAMS PITCHER OVERCOMES NEAR-FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT
BY BRIAN ELLIOT-PEKRUL

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Starting pitcher Mike Hendrickson persevered over multiple injuries to rejoin the Rams and emerge as a team leader. ANNE-MARIE STARK / GUARDSMAN

With the 2007 baseball season now underway, there is no player on this year's Rams squad who has done more to prepare for it than starting pitcher Mike Hendrickson.

On June 24, 2005, Hendrickson was involved in an auto accident outside Chicago that threatened to end his young life.

"We simply lost control of the car," Hendrickson said. He was a passenger in a car that his friend was driving.

Along with injuries that included a torn-up knee, broken fingers and major skin loss from his scalp and hand, Hendrickson also broke his neck, which left him immobilized for a month.

While he was in the hospital, Hendrickson was often visited by his baseball coach, John Vanoncini.

"I just told him that he was not going to lose his spot on this team because of his accident," Vanoncini said. "I wanted him to know that if he got better he could always come back and be a part of the team."

Hendrickson's return to the Rams was not guaranteed, especially after breaking his neck and suffering serious injuries to his pitching hand. "After the accident I was just concerned with getting healthy again, Hendrickson said. "At that time I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to play baseball again."

Nobody was sure if Hendrickson would ever be able to play again, and before he could even think of stepping back on a baseball diamond he had to wait for his broken neck to heal.

"There was no physical therapy I could do for a broken neck, he said. "So I had to wait for it to heal so that I could begin exercising again."

Once he received word from doctors that his neck had healed, Hendrickson started a physical therapy program to help him with his hands, and began an intensive workout regimen to get his body back into shape.

"I was really motivated to get into shape and get past this whole obstacle. I was running and lifting more weights than I ever had," Hendrickson said.

While Hendrickson pushed himself to rebound from his injuries, Coach Vanoncini, who kept in constant contact with him, was impressed by his resiliency. "I was amazed at Mike's drive and desire," Vanoncini said. "The things he was going through and the way he was overcoming adversity really put things into perspective."

e-mail: sports@theguardsman.com

PROBLEMATIC SEASON AWAITS SOFTBALL TEAM
BY ANNYSE ACEVEDO

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jenny Xiao is in the batter's box about to take a swing as Bridgit Egan takes a running lead off first. MELISSA MA / GUARDSMAN

Facing a grueling season, injuries among team members and a shortage of players, the Rams women’s softball team will be hard pressed to make it past the regular season.

Early expectations were high for the lady Rams to enter the post-season until pitcher Kim Ma was injured.

“All hopes dwindled when we lost Kim to a blown out shoulder,” said Head Coach Frank Sinkovich.

Losing Ma, who recently had shoulder surgery, meant that only one hurler remained to pitch the entire season.

Injury also struck behind the plate; going from two catchers to  one this season makes it even more stressful for the team.

“If anybody goes down, we can’t play the rest of the season,” Sinkovich said.

Problems recruiting players make it difficult to maintain a full roster as well. Scouting local athletes is a problem, Sinkovich added, because he can't entice a potential player to attend City College with no promise of enrollment in academic programs in which there is high demand, such as nursing.

Despite being plagued by injury and an incomplete roster, the women’s team has been able to maintain a positive attitude going into the 2007 season. Their goal as articulated by Sinkovich is simple: beat the four major teams at least once, and everybody else every time they meet. Major competition comes from the College of San Mateo, De Anza, Ohlone and San Jose City College. Sinkovich remains optimistic.

“There’s always hope for this season,” he said. "We just need them to get ranked."

Led by Captain Claudia Li and Co-captain Allison Der, the team is ready to go after the goal set by Sinkovich.

“I am confident we’ll do pretty well this year,” said Der, who made all-conference, first team last year.

With only three returning players from last season, dependence on freshmen to step up and contribute to overall success is a must.

“Some of our best players are the new players this season,” Sinkovich said. 

e-mail: editorial@theguardsman.com