By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
Pat Fedorko is living in a world he is not used to this season.
It’s a world of playing half a baseball game, while watching his teammates play the other half.
Due to an issue with his right shoulder, the Lawrence High senior has been unable to catch during the first part of the season and has been relegated to designated hitter.
It certainly hasn’t affected his hitting as Fedorko is slugging away at well over .300. But the big guy enjoys being behind the plate as well.
”It’s tough,” he said. “It’s not something I’m used to. I’m used to going out there and gearing up every game.
”I’ve made the best of it I guess you could say. I’ve become a leader on the bench as much as on the field. It’s kind of a tough role but I’m taking to it as much as I can.”
Fedorko is unsure when he actually encountered his shoulder problem, but a winter of skating and being checked into the boards probably didn’t help.
”There’s nothing structurally wrong, it’s just sore,” he said. “I don’t know what exactly set it off, but I’m sure hockey didn’t help. It’s just not feeling too good.
”It’s a battle to get back right now. I’m doing rehab and stuff, working my butt off to get back. It’s going to take some time.”
During preseason, Fedorko didn’t think the shoulder would be that much of a problem. It didn’t take long for him to realize that baserunners would run wild on the Cardinals if he tried to catch.
”Coming into the season I didn’t think I’d have an issue,” he said. “But I started throwing and it didn’t feel right, it didn’t feel good. I started to get some pain.
”Ever since, it’s never really felt 100 percent. I could long toss, but once I let it go 100 percent it hurts.” Fortunately for Fedorko and the Cardinals, it has not affected his sweet swing, which has him pondering college offers from Delaware, Wagner and Jacksonville State in Alabama.
”I feel as comfortable as I’ve ever felt up at the plate,” he said last week. “I wish I could get out there on the field but you have to give it some time.”
Because he has been limited to just hitting, Fedorko has begun to appreciate every trip to the plate even more.
”Not that I haven’t concentrated in the past, but I’ve kind of learned to take every at-bat now very serious and really concentrate,” he said. “I make sure I’m doing everything right, even if I’m fouling the ball off I want to make sure my swing is right there.
”I don’t’ want to get into bad habits. For the most part, I’ve swung the bat well this year.”
He also expects to be back behind the dish before to long.
”I’ll be honest, I’m not too concerned about my shoulder,” he said. “I think it’s a short-term thing. If I keep going to rehab and do a little more, I’ll be back in no time.”
He just hopes the team can rebound like his shoulder does. Entering the week, Lawrence was scuffling at 2-9 after a loss to a Princeton team that was 3-10.
”It’s been a frustrating year so far, we’ve just gotta keep our heads up,” Fedorko said. “Our downfall has been the errors rather than the hitting. We’ve been hitting the ball for the most part, we just haven’t found a way to get it together defensively, that’s what’s killing us now.”
