The injury bug has hit the Bruins once again. Softball’s Katie Schroeder will sit out the rest of the season and pick up a medical redshirt, and the baseball team has a few nicks and bruises. DB Sports senior staffers square off on these injuries and more in this week’s battle of the columnists.
Katie Schroeder will sit out the rest of this season with a nagging leg injury. Thoughts?
Ryan Eshoff: Tough break for the Bruins to lose their leadoff hitter and center fielder. For a program that has been unable to capitalize on championship opportunities in recent seasons, this was a painful development. Now it is even more imperative that youngsters such as B.B. Bates step up.
Brantly Watson: Injuries certainly hurt (no pun intended), but when someone in the top of the lineup goes down, it’s critical. Plus, if these Bruins hope to compete for No. 106, it’s vital to have their entire squad, seeing as how UCLA’s competition will be stiff, to say the least. In short, the Bruins’ championship hopes just went from slim to bleak.
The baseball team has had a few nicks and bruises. Which are the most significant?
Eshoff: The biggest concern will be whether second baseman Tyler Rahmatulla has to miss any time. Rahmatulla has been a fixture in both the field and the third spot in the order. The sophomore has been one of the team’s most consistent hitters, and if he misses any time ““ he sat out a game last week ““ that’s trouble.
Watson: Eh, hitters schmitters. It’s not about the hitters, especially for UCLA. I truly believe anyone can step up to the plate and get a hit. All that matters is that the Bruins’ pitching staff remains healthy. If Cole, Rasmussen, Bauer and Claypool can avoid the injury bug, then UCLA has a shot against whoever it faces.
Nik Abele retired from football after suffering neck injuries throughout spring practice. Thoughts?
Eshoff: Kevin Prince’s nights just got a little more sleepless. Abele was expected to compete for one of the starting tackle positions, and his loss is a big one ““ both literally and figuratively. With Xavier Su’a-Filo also out of the picture, I’m thinking about suiting up myself. What do you think of that idea, my dear Watson?
Watson: I think you would look good in pads, my dear colleague. As far as Abele, how sad. The good news is he’s still on scholarship and will be able to continue with his free education, but it’s still unfortunate that he has to retire so young. The team will suffer, but at some point, it becomes more about the individual.
Brendan Lane had ankle surgery in April and will be off his feet until September. How will this affect the basketball team?
Eshoff: It means we might get a lot of Josh Smith, and there’s a lot to offer. If Lane’s recovery suffers any setbacks, that will leave Reeves Nelson and … well, Reeves Nelson as the only experienced post presence. Sadly, my status as a tackle on the gridiron may hinder my ability to try out at power forward.
Watson: It won’t. To say that Lane is experienced is a bit of an overstatement. Sure, he played a few minutes last season, but he wasn’t significant in the Bruins’ rotation. Besides, this season’s team should revolve around only three players anyway, at least in my opinion: T-Cutt, Reevesy and Big Josh Smith.