Friday, May 19, 2000
Pettit overcomes injury to lead Fairfield
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ryan Pettit
(Gary Landers photo)
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After having surgery last June to repair a torn ligament in his right leg, Fairfield infielder Ryan Pettit was faced with a tough decision.
"I didn't know if I wanted to put all the work into coming back or just concentrate on academics,'' Pettit said. ''I decided to go through the rehab, because I just couldn't give up baseball. It means too much to me.''
About two months after the surgery, Pettit started the long rehabilitation process needed to be 100 percent ready for the season.
His hard work has paid off.
He led the Greater Miami Conference in hitting with a .554 batting average (36-for-65) with eight doubles, three home runs, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored.
Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at Midland Field, Pettit will be one of the key players for Fairfield when the Indians play defending Division I state champion Elder for the district championship. The winner advances to the Division I regional semifinals next Friday at Wright State University.
Instead, Pettit recently signed a letter of intent to attend Lincoln Memorial University, a Division II school outside Knoxville, Tenn.
''Ryan has been a superb leader,'' Fairfield coach Ralph Smith said. ''He leads by example and the other players have taken to him.''
While Pettit has paced the offense, Jason Bowlin, a transfer from Hamilton, has taken over as the Indians' No. 1 pitcher, compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.20 ERA.
''We feel confident we can beat anybody when he's on the mound,'' Smith said.
When Fairfield defeated Elder 3-1 on April 1 at Hille Field, junior lefty Adam Ruhl was on the mound for the Indians.
''We've thought about throwing Adam again on Saturday against Elder,'' Smith said. ''But if we're to get beat, we'll go down with our No. 1 pitching.''
Elder will counter with undefeated Dan Bachman, a left-hander who didn't throw in the first game.
''The kid (Bachman) knows how to pitch,'' Smith said. ''We watched him against Hamilton and he showed a lot of composure. He's not overpowering but has a great curve which makes his fast ball very effective.''
Offensively, Fairfield has seven players batting .300 or better.
''The first game means something to our kids,'' Smith said. ''It showed them that they can play with Elder and gave them confidence. It should be a great high school game.
''We have nothing to lose. But Elder is the defending champions until someone beats them. They've been here before which could be to their advantage.''
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