Ballard hurt his shoulder on first pitch

AUSTIN, Texas – He has been the team’s best pitcher all season. In fact, University of Maine junior righthander Mark Ballard was one win shy of tying Joe Ferris’ school record for consecutive wins (nine) when he took the mound against Cal State-Fullerton in Friday’s Central II Regional opener.

But Ballard lasted only 30 pitches and 1 1/3 innings due to a sore shoulder. When Maine lost 11-5, his streak ended.

“It felt normal warming up, but I hurt it on the first pitch I threw in the game,” said Ballard, who had posted a 1.37 earned run average while winning his previous eight starts. “It felt like it had come out of the socket.”

“I tried to keep pitching, but it hurt, I wasn’t throwing hard, and I wasn’t throwing strikes,” said Ballard. “I wasn’t helping the team.”

Of Ballard’s 30 pitches, 17 were strikes, but he walked one and hit another. He gave up one hit and four runs, but only two of them were earned.

“You could tell something was wrong,” said senior catcher Shawn Tobin. “He didn’t have very good velocity, and he said his arm was killing him.”

Maine senior left fielder and tri-captain Bill Champi said losing Ballard so early in the game was a blow to the team.

Ryan Smith, the No. 6 starter, and seldom-used Val Beaudet and Steve Coombs finished up.

With Maine in the losers bracket, Maine Coach John Winkin was forced to save his other four starters and top relievers.

Ballard was 8-2 with a 2.51 earned run average entering the game.

He said he expects to be examined by a doctor in Austin on Saturday.