The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Lose Chitwood, McCommon For Season Due To Injuries
3/30/2005 | Softball
March 30, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss softball program suffered two big losses in the last two weeks as juniors Stacy McCommon and Jordan Chitwood will miss the remainder of the 2005 season due to injury head coach Candi Letts announced on Wednesday.
McCommon, who has not played in a game since Feb. 22 against Samford, underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff and will have to sit out the rest of the season. McCommon, who was slated to start for the Rebels in left field this season, will seek a medical redshirt in order to gain another year of playing time because of her injury.
It marks the second rotator cuff surgery for McCommon as a Rebel.
Stacy McCommon  | |
"Stacy has shown tons of leadership even though she's not playing," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "She plays a huge role in the dugout even though she can't be on the field. It's tough on her because she really wanted to be a leader with this team this year. It's tough on an athlete who is supposed to be a starter. It takes a mentally tough person to be able to handle a situation like this."
McCommon is working to keep herself in the game despite being unable to take the field in a Rebel uniform.
"All I can do right now is be a voice of support for the team and be there when they need me," McCommon said. "I try to keep the dugout alive and support my team from there. I just remind myself that I am there for my team and I can't be selfish and get down simply because I want to play and can't right now. I watch the game and study it so next season I can be a better ballplayer and help my team even more."
Chitwood, the starter at second base, suffered her third concussion in a year, and the second in a month over the weekend in the final game against No. 14 Florida. Chitwood was knocked to the ground by a Florida base runner who was caught in a rundown. Chitwood was knocked down as the base runner sought to knock the ball from Chitwood's hands with her body as the second baseman tagged her out.
The concussion Chitwood suffered was classified as severe by the team physician and she has not been cleared to play for the remainder of the season.
Jordan Chitwood | |
Chitwood had been a key hitter in the Rebel lineup the past few weeks as the junior hit above .500 at the 2005 Bulldog Classic that saw the Rebels down then fourth-ranked UCLA. She followed it up with another above .500 performance at the plate against Kentucky. Chitwood had been hitting .289 on the season and ended an eight game hitting streak in the second game against Florida over the weekend.
"Jordan has been the perfect example of what a coach looks for in a team player," said Letts. "It's a tough situation to lose a great ballplayer who is having a good year. We hate to lose her, but we want her to make a recovery so she can be healthy and be back with us next season. She is a vital part of our team, and we want the best for her."
Ole Miss will continue its season with a three-game series at the University of Alabama this weekend. The Rebels and Tide will face off in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. on April 2, and conclude the series with a single game at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 3.
