Pitchers - Wear your masks

[dgorsuch]

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Julie Ham sat in a dimly lit hospital room holding her daughter's hand and whispering to her husband when 17-year-old Holly Ham's bandaged head rose and one of her big green eyes looked up at her mother with recognition Wednesday morning. Her left eye was swollen shut.

The junior at Rockcastle County High in Mount Vernon, Ky., is in serious but stable condition after being hit in the face by a line drive during a softball game Monday night. Holly Ham started breathing on her own Wednesday morning after having brain surgery late Monday night.

Ham was transferred by helicopter to the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center following an emergency room stopover at Mount Vernon's Rockcastle County Hospital on Monday night.

Ham held up two fingers and wiggled her toes, upon waking from a coma that was medically induced Tuesday. Doctors expect to remove her feeding tube Thursday.

More than 200 people family, students, parents, school faculty, coworkers and complete strangers have visited with the Hams at their makeshift living quarters in the ICU waiting room, adorned with "get well" balloons, cards, stuffed animals and gift baskets.

Ham, who usually plays third base, was filling in for an injured pitcher when she was struck.

Her parents, Julie and Jeff Ham, are asking that the Kentucky High School Athletic Association make face masks mandatory for all students, especially those playing third base or pitcher. They said that Rockcastle County High has already ordered protective masks.

"I think it should be a state policy," Julie Ham said.

Commissioner Julian Tackett said that these types of incidents are what trigger rules changes but said the concern with masks is that they obstruct vision and become potential safety hazards.

Elden May, the association's spokesman, said that these types of injuries have occurred in several other states, especially with baseball and softball players. He said cost measures would need to be weighed against trending injuries.

"It's a very unfortunate thing that happened," May said. "The National Federation (of State High School Associations) has debated this subject much in recent years."

What seemed like little more than a run-of-the-mill injury turned into a life-threatening situation within hours.

After coming home Monday night, Holly Ham was feeling nauseous, She wrapped herself in a blanket and sat on the bathroom floor. Julie Ham, a nurse, was checking her daughter's pupils and making sure they were equal and active. But within hours, Holly Ham became incoherent and could not hold her head up.

Kevin Rowe, a physician at Rockcastle County Hospital, suspected Holly Ham had an epidural hemorrhage and decided to call in a Medevac unit.

"He looked at me and said, 'Julie, she is in bad shape,' " Julie Ham said, recalling that night. Rowe and Julie Ham attended Rockcastle County High together.

Doctors initially told the Hams that their daughter would undergo extensive therapy and might suffer from permanent brain injuries. However, Holly Ham is now expected to make a full recovery without the help of therapy.

"We give complete credit to the prayers," Julie Ham said.

[Twins98Dad]

I totally agree!!! To add to that I would also say that 1st and 3rd base positions should also wear masks. I saw a girl take a line drive to the face at 3rd base in Brenham this weekend. Thank God she had a mask on.

[etx bd]

My prayers are with this young lady and her family and I thank God she wasn't injured more seriously.

Was it really the lack of a mask or the fact the girl "usually plays third base, was filling in for an injured pitcher when she was struck." If she wasn't a competent pitcher, she was an injury waiting to happen. At the high school level if a pitcher throws the ball down the middle with little or no spin on it - that ball is coming back at her at a high rate of speed. A mask will only prevent one type of injury, what about a chest protector or shin guards. Kids have been killed by being hit in the chest by a batted ball.

I have no idea if this girl was qualified to be in the circle but it might be a good idea to know the facts before we start adding more rules.

[DP3816]

That's it my 10U pitcher is wearing her mask from here on.

Thank God this child is going to be alright.

I do have to ask one question. WHY IN THE HELL DID THIS GIRL NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL?

[bigtime]

it is horrible when any kiid gets hurt. i hope for a full and speedy recovery.

if the major organazations wont do anything about this problem it is time for parents to step up and be parents. i have read this discussion over and over and it comes back to a parent issue.

i make my daughter wear one when she plays infield period...afew weeks back a very good shortstop took a bad hop to the face,thing was she had a mask on. even with the mask it knocked her down and had her seeing stars.

in closing i will never have to answer to my daughter why i didnt step up as her parent and protect her in the infield. it is two very simple choices wear the mask when playing infield or dont play.

[Papa Smurf]

Two weeks ago in Mansfield a second baseman on Dallas Tigers 14U took a line drive to the nose. Looked like it broke her nose and I know it pushed her braces through her top lip. If anyone knows her condition, please post it here.

SECOND BASEMAN!!

And you parents still debate whether to put a mask on your pitchers,
third and first basemen???
Protect your kids.
What if a ball to the head kills her or leaves her with permanent damage?
There IS life AFTER softball for God's sake.
Plastic surgeons are good but they are not miracle workers.
Why put your DD through all that?

[txfastptchcoach]

I purchased Rip it masks for all my kids that play a corner position and pitcher's on my team. All but 1 wears it. One of my pitcher's doesn't wear a mask. She says she doesn't like the way they feel. All I can do as a coach is by them, I can't make them wear it. I asked the parents to please have them wear them.

[doittoit]

My prayers are with this young lady and her family and I thank God she wasn't injured more seriously.

Was it really the lack of a mask or the fact the girl "usually plays third base, was filling in for an injured pitcher when she was struck." If she wasn't a competent pitcher, she was an injury waiting to happen. At the high school level if a pitcher throws the ball down the middle with little or no spin on it - that ball is coming back at her at a high rate of speed. A mask will only prevent one type of injury, what about a chest protector or shin guards. Kids have been killed by being hit in the chest by a batted ball.

I have no idea if this girl was qualified to be in the circle but it might be a good idea to know the facts before we start adding more rules.

You just proved that you are a complete idiot!! An injury waiting to happen?? Bottom line is, it did and it will continue to happen until the parents get smart enough to make their child wear it. I have seen pitches that were not thrown " down the middle" ripped back up the middle or down the third base line. You are stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

PARENTS, MAKE YOUR CHILD WEAR THE MASK!!!!!!

Out!!

[slaphitter]

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Julie Ham sat in a dimly lit hospital room holding her daughter's hand and whispering to her husband when 17-year-old Holly Ham's bandaged head rose and one of her big green eyes looked up at her mother with recognition Wednesday morning. Her left eye was swollen shut.

The junior at Rockcastle County High in Mount Vernon, Ky., is in serious but stable condition after being hit in the face by a line drive during a softball game Monday night. Holly Ham started breathing on her own Wednesday morning after having brain surgery late Monday night.

"I think it should be a state policy," Julie Ham said.

Commissioner Julian Tackett said that these types of incidents are what trigger rules changes but said the concern with masks is that they obstruct vision and become potential safety hazards.

Elden May, the association's spokesman, said that these types of injuries have occurred in several other states, especially with baseball and softball players. He said cost measures would need to be weighed against trending injuries.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Typical reponses from Commissioners and spokespersons who are just thinking about $$$$$$ and not so much the SAFETY of these Kids. The new type mask do not hinder vision that much. A BATTING helmet hinders vision a hold lot more but they are MANDATORY. Why is that Commissioner ?????? They both serve the same Purpose. Protect the Kids from head and Facial injuries.

[doittoit]

Bottom line is, it did and it will continue to happen....

Injuries from comebackers are minuscule in numbers, the sky is not falling.
More kids are hurt sliding into base. What is your solution for that?

Minuscule, yes but much more life threatening if it does happen. I do not understand how people like you can be so not understanding about face masks. Your dd must not pitch??

If any parents kid gets hit in the face by a "minuscule" comebacker, I bet they are going to think the sky is falling, not to mention what their dd is going to be thinking lying there on the ground, if she is able to think.

There is no way you can compare sliding and "minuscule" combackers, I don't care who you are. I would think being a moderator, you should be less opionated about these kinds of situations!!

Out!!