Freak accident cuts season short for starting outfielder

Maddison Hurley started the year off slowly for the Lady Trojans and then things went from bad to worse, when two weeks ago she broke her finger.

Hurley was the number four hitter and the starting center fielder for the team until the accident.

She said it was during practice and it was a fly ball that got her.

“I was playing left and I ran to center for a fly ball and I put my hand in the glove. The ball landed on my finger, popped it right at the joint and broke it,” she said.

Hurley said she will get the cast off May 15 but thinks this might be too late for the team. This is right during Division I-A playoffs.

“I can run with my cast on and no one will know,” she said laughing.

Trojans Coach Ely Armendariz is more optimistic.

“Hurley still can come back. I would feel a lot better with Lawdensky in left and Hurley in the center simply because of the speed we have, but Lawdensky is doing a great job filling in for her. I feel she can come back, but her timing will be off. With Hurley out, we lack a little in speed,” he said.

This is all a minor setback for Hurley. She still has one more year to play. Softball is what Hurley lives for and she has been playing the game since she was in second grade.

“My mother got me involved in sports and she was a tomboy and so am I. I really don’t like to hang out with the girls all the time. I like playing sports and don’t like doing my hair or makeup. I just put on clothes and I am good. I will make myself presentable when I have to,” explained Hurley.

The outfielder is one of the best hitters on the Trojans team and likes the way the sport is so demanding.

“I like softball because it challenges me. People find baseball or softball boring, but I don’t. To me, it’s exciting to make those plays and do those hard things that most people can’t do,” she said.

Ironically, this top hitter feels hitting is the hardest thing for her to do.

“The most challenging thing for me to do is hitting. Defense is OK for me. Hitting is my biggest problem. I just can’t figure out what is wrong with my hitting. I am not sure what I do wrong. I have to ask people to help me and sometimes I just don’t get it,” she said.

One of the most influential coaches Hurley has had is her mother, Trudy Hurley.

“It’s different with my mom because she really does a lot for me and other players feel that she is their mom. She is always there and always helps me out. I don’t like to listen to her because I have to listen to her at home. It kind of bothers me but at the same time she watches me and so when we do go home she helps me with whatever I need. She knows what I am doing wrong and how I am,” Maddison said.

Maddison hopes to go to college, perhaps play college ball and study to be a physical therapist.