The Barnstormers have lost another key player to injury. C Lance Burkhart suffered a fractured left wrist during a collision with Camden’s Richard Lewis at first base Tuesday night. Burkhart was taken to the hospital during the game and had his wrist placed in a cast.
“I knew something wasn’t right,” he said. “I’d never felt anything like that before. I knew it wasn’t good.”
Burkhart is out at least six weeks. Trainer Mark Francis estimated the typical recovery time for this type of injury — which involves the radius bone — is eight to 10 weeks. If it takes that long, it could put Burkhart’s season in jeopardy, but it’s too soon to project with any certainty.
The injury occurred in the first inning. P D.J. Mattox fielded a soft grounder and threw to first. The ball drifted into the baseline. As Burkhart reached for it, his glove hand slammed into Lewis’ chest.
This is obviously a huge setback for a team that was starting to turn the corner. The Barnstormers are left with the difficult task of replacing one of their team leaders and their starting catcher.
“It’s another tough blow,” manager Von Hayes said. “It’s going to be very difficult to try to get some people in here quickly. We’re going to have to try to find somebody to put a uniform on.”
Burkhart was playing first base because 2B Juan Francia suffered a strained hamstring during Monday night’s game. That forced the team to shuffle its infield. Lloyd Turner was shifted to 2B, Ivanon Coffie took over 3B and Burkhart played 1B. It was his eighth game at that position this season.
The Barnstormers will place Burkhart on the disabled list. He becomes the seventh player to land on the DL. The team only has nine healthy position players at the moment.
