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Baseball: Shoulder surgery goes well for Loyola ace pitcher Richmond
5/26/12 Glenview Loyola's Logan Spurlin (34) catches a pop-up near home during the regional baseball final against New Trier on Saturday, May 26th. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Updated: July 3, 2012 11:56AM
Jack Richmond sat at the scorer’s table for Saturday’s regional final against New Trier.
If things were different, the Loyola senior probably would have been warming up.
But Loyola’s projected ace learned his season was over before it started when he found out he had torn a labrum in his left shoulder.
“Watching this game kills me,” the Iowa-bound left-hander said. “I can’t believe I’m not out there for my senior year.”
JT Trimble did Richmond proud, even though the Ramblers lost 2-1 to the Trevians.
The junior righty pitched all six innings in the hard-luck loss. Trimble’s only big mistakes came in the bottom of the sixth when he walked Josh Perlmutter to lead off the inning before he surrendered a two-run homer to Chris Hall. It was one of three hits he allowed in the game.
Meanwhile, Richmond, with his left arm in a sling, was powerless in a game meant for him.
Richmond’s road to recovery began a couple of weeks ago after Dr. Stephen Gryzlo performed the shoulder surgery. Richmond waited patiently for the Chicago Cubs team doctor to become available.
“It’s actually not too bad,” Richmond said. “The tear I had has the best recovery of all of them.”
Richmond said he should be healthy enough to throw again in six months. It will take longer to get his arm back into the same pitching shape, but Richmond said the Iowa coaches are supportive of the process.
“They seem fine with it,” he said. “They want me to take my time. I am excited to play for them.”
With Richmond on the bench, the Ramblers finished 12-25 against a tough schedule that included fellow Catholic League opponents.
Loyola loses some standouts, including catcher Logan Spurlin, but the Ramblers return some players with varsity experience.
“I was at every game,” Richmond said. “I tried to be part of the support staff. I helped out as much as I could. Unfortunately, that was all I could do.”
