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batted balls · 12-10-2006, 06:27 PM

April 26, 2008

Champaign, Ill.--Illinois catcher Darrin Fletcher has a pretty good idea why Minnesota's Dave Winfield was taken in the pro football draft.

"He hit me pretty hard," said Fletcher (shown below). "It was clean, but he really loaded up on me."

Winfield lowered his shoulder and attempted to knock the ball loose from Fletcher's grasp while trying to score on a second-inning single. While Fletcher was able to hang onto the ball and tag Winfield out, the play dislocated the Illini catcher's left shoulder.

"Our trainers and team doctor indicate that Darrin will miss at least seven weeks," said Illinois manager Tom Dedin. "You never know with something like this."

While Minnesota ran over Illinois 12-4 in the All-American Baseball League East game, the loss for the Illini goes far beyond Monday's contest.

"To lose Darrin is difficult right now," said Dedin. "But we've got to move on. We're still a first-place ballclub."

Fletcher will no doubt be sorely missed by Illinois. The 24-year-old catcher is the East's leading hitter with a .444 average. Fletcher also sported a .511 on-base percentage. In addition, he was slugging .506.

"Darrin's contributions go far beyond stats," said Illinois pitcher Fred Beebe. "He's really been our heart and soul this year."

Rube Novotney was called up from Triple-A to take Fletcher's roster spot. Illinois is also missing short stop Lou Boudreau, who is listed as day-to-day with a sprained toe.

"This will be a challenge for our team," said Dedin. "We're about to see what we're made of."

Game Notes: Minnesota designated hitter Bobby Fenwick drove home a career-high seven runs. Fenwick hit a first-inning grand slam off loser John Ericks (3-2) and then tripled home a run in the third. Later, Fenwick knocked in two more runs with a seventh-inning single . . . Minnesota scored seven runs in the first inning as Ericks failed to get a single out. Tom Fletcher, Darrin's father, came on in long relief for Illinois . . . Jim Brower (2-2) pitched six innings of five-hit ball to earn the win for the Golden Gophers.

12-10-2006, 06:27 PM	#311 (permalink)
batted balls All Star Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: White Sox Country Posts: 1,319 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Dislocated Shoulder Sidelines Illini's Fletcher; East's Top Hitter Likely Out for Two Months April 26, 2008 Champaign, Ill.--Illinois catcher Darrin Fletcher has a pretty good idea why Minnesota's Dave Winfield was taken in the pro football draft. "He hit me pretty hard," said Fletcher (shown below). "It was clean, but he really loaded up on me." Winfield lowered his shoulder and attempted to knock the ball loose from Fletcher's grasp while trying to score on a second-inning single. While Fletcher was able to hang onto the ball and tag Winfield out, the play dislocated the Illini catcher's left shoulder. "Our trainers and team doctor indicate that Darrin will miss at least seven weeks," said Illinois manager Tom Dedin. "You never know with something like this." While Minnesota ran over Illinois 12-4 in the All-American Baseball League East game, the loss for the Illini goes far beyond Monday's contest. "To lose Darrin is difficult right now," said Dedin. "But we've got to move on. We're still a first-place ballclub." Fletcher will no doubt be sorely missed by Illinois. The 24-year-old catcher is the East's leading hitter with a .444 average. Fletcher also sported a .511 on-base percentage. In addition, he was slugging .506. "Darrin's contributions go far beyond stats," said Illinois pitcher Fred Beebe. "He's really been our heart and soul this year." Rube Novotney was called up from Triple-A to take Fletcher's roster spot. Illinois is also missing short stop Lou Boudreau, who is listed as day-to-day with a sprained toe. "This will be a challenge for our team," said Dedin. "We're about to see what we're made of." Game Notes: Minnesota designated hitter Bobby Fenwick drove home a career-high seven runs. Fenwick hit a first-inning grand slam off loser John Ericks (3-2) and then tripled home a run in the third. Later, Fenwick knocked in two more runs with a seventh-inning single . . . Minnesota scored seven runs in the first inning as Ericks failed to get a single out. Tom Fletcher, Darrin's father, came on in long relief for Illinois . . . Jim Brower (2-2) pitched six innings of five-hit ball to earn the win for the Golden Gophers. Attached Images __________________ White Sox fan since 1972 Last edited by batted balls; 12-10-2006 at 06:34 PM.