Elbow surgery means Duensing out until '05

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

by curt mckeever

Brian Duensing, who hoped rest and rehabilitation would be his ticket back into the Nebraska baseball team's pitching rotation this season, will undergo major surgery on his elbow soon and now looks to return in 2005.

The left-handed Duensing was 3-0 with a 2.42 earned run average in four starts as a sophomore last year when he suffered a tear to the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow to end his season.

When Nebraska began practice in mid-January, he appeared set to regain the form that led to his hot start in 2003. But two weeks ago, Duensing experienced soreness in his elbow, and when it didn't subside he had it checked out.

On Tuesday, Duensing decided to undergo reconstructive surgery. As soon as next week, he'll get an evaluation from respected specialist Dr. James Andrews in Troy, Ala., then decide whether to have surgery there or in Lincoln by a Nebraska team doctor.

"My biggest disappointment is for Brian. It's like waiting a year for Christmas and you wake up and it's Christmas and there's no presents under the tree," said NUassociate head coach Rob Childress, who is in charge of the Husker pitching staff.

The procedure Duensing will have is known as Tommy John surgery, named after the former major-leaguer who came back after suffering the same injury.

Typically, those who make it back go through at least a year of rehabilitation. But Nebraska junior Dusty Timm is back pitching effectively for the Huskers after having the operation last March. Ironically, Timm, who has a save and 1.93 ERAin two appearances this season, could now chew up many of the innings that Duensing would have filled.

"Honestly, we have not counted on him in terms of saying 'have to have him, (and if not), boy, we're in trouble now,'" coach Mike Anderson said. "It's the same scenario as last year. Everybody else has been prepared, and if Duensing came along Ithink it was a plus. If he didn't, unfortunately, it's something we've got to move on.

"He's got a great attitude, (but) it's still tough. Three months from now, there's going to be a lot of things going through his head, mentally and physically. It's a tough process."

Nebraska, ranked as high as 14th in this week's national polls after getting off to 5-1 start, heads to the Dairy Queen Classic in Minneapolis this weekend for games against No. 22 Florida State, Minnesota and West Virginia. It'll be NU's first meetings against the Seminoles, who have been ranked in 256 consecutive Collegiate Baseball polls dating to 1988, and the Mountaineers.

The Huskers will stick with the same pitching rotation of Zach Kroenke (2-0), Quinton Robertson (1-1) and Justin Pekarek (1-0) they used last weekend at the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational in Houston.

Nebraska's lone loss was a 4-2 decision Saturday to defending national champion Rice. The Huskers came back on Sunday to defeat No. 15 North Carolina 10-4.

"I'm tired of going down to Rice and losing to those guys ... (but)I'm realistic to understand that there are some positives in being 5-1," Anderson said. "Ilike the way our team has responded to some things and said, 'OK, we've got a chance to sweep (on opening weekend), let's go.' We've got a chance to bounce back against North Carolina, how are we going to respond? Our guys came out like they'd got kicked in the teeth."

Junior shortstop Joe Simokaitis leads the Big 12 in hitting with a .500 average. Simokaitis, who had off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder and sat out this summer and fall, is 10-for-20 with 7 RBIs.

"Honestly, Ifelt a little behind because Ihadn't seen live pitching since last season," Simokaitis said. "But Ithink the biggest thing was convincing myself that Iwas prepared, as opposed to making the excuse of Ihaven't seen live pitching."

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@;journalstar.com.