by Zach Nienaber
Of the Sportsweek staff

Last spring Ian Andrews was a sophomore on his way to a promising season with the Coon Rapids High School junior varsity baseball team.

Then a sharp line drive off the bat of a teammate changed all that.

“He was over on the field throwing bating practice,” said assistant varsity coach Don Bright who was in the batting cages at the time. “Sometimes you get a little careless and don’t get all the way behind the L screen when you are throwing and that’s what happened here.”

Andrews took the line drive just above the temple and collapsed to the ground. Another teammate, Blair Townsend, who is also the Coon Rapids quarterback this football season, raced into the school to get the trainer while the rest of the team quickly gathered around the mound where Andrews was sitting, still conscious.

“I saw the ball leave the bat and come right at me. I just couldn’t get out of the way in time,” said Andrews. “I can still recall the whole incident.”

While this portion of Andrews’ story sounds like it had a happy ending, it could have led to disastrous results. After the trainer arrived at the field in less than five minuets, Andrews already had a bag of ice on his head from one of the neighbors next to the Con Rapids High School baseball field.

Andrews made it over to the dugout and talked to the trainer who checked his memory, among other things.

After answering the questions seemingly perfectly the trainer still suggested that Andrews mother be called and a trip to the emergency room was in order.

Subsequent tests at the hospital revealed that Andrews had suffered a sub dural hematoma, brain bruising, and spinal cord fluid was trapped in his skull. Had it gone undiagnosed it could have been catastrophic.

Instead after treatments the doctors simply advised no more baseball that spring or summer and no football this fall. He gets his clearance to become a full sports participant later this fall or early this winter depending on his final check ups.

Those instuctions, however, have not stopped Andrews from joining the Coon Rapids football team. An athlete possessing a very strong arm, Andrews uses it effectively as a catcher and pitcher in baseball and as a quarterback in football.

Though he does not take part in any contact drills, Andrews does participate in the stretching and all non-contact drills and conditioning offered during practice sessions. with the team only bowing out when it comes to contact drills.

“As a quarterback I have done a lot of throwing and I watch a lot — getting a grasp for the offense,” he said.

Does it mean his football career is over all together?

No, a year from now he should be healthy enough to play again and Andrews plans on giving it another try as a full participant, not just one who must duck out when the hitting begins.

He also plans to rejoin the baseball team again this coming spring at which time the coaching staff expects him to be a main contributor as both a pitcher and a catcher.

“The thing I like about him is he has a big arm,” said Bright. “I think he will be a big help next year, he’s a big strong kid.”

Before he gets a chance to show off his arm in actual varsity competition, Andrews first plans to join the the swimming team this winter. This sport will offer him his first actual opportunity for competition since the injury.

Then will come baseball and the chance to step back up on the mound where he will attempt to face-down oppoosing batters next spring, then summer. And that will be without the protection of the practice-pitcher’s L-screen...