QUINCY- There will be no more comeback attempts, no more coaxing his injured shoulder through another season for the McInnis Carpentry Softball Club.
Scott Logan, after a discussion with the team's medical staff in December, had surgery on Tuesday to repair a damaged right shoulder. He will miss the entire '08 season.
"It's been bothering me for years," he said. "I just figured I could play through it and would heal on it's own during the off season. But my doctors told me it was inevitable there was going to be surgery. It was just a matter of when.
It's gotten to the point now where I just can't compete. So, I figured now is the time, I'm not getting any younger."
The loss of Logan creates a massive hole in the McInnis Carpentry lineup. Logan lead the M.C. Club to a second place regular season finish in '07. A 12-time Gold Glove award winner he also captured the team Triple Crown award by leading the Hammers in HR's, RBI & Battting Average.
Logan first injured the shoulder in June of '98. An MRI revealled the initial tear but he still went on to play 9 more seasons.
"I don't have any regrets about playing him all these years -- outside of the obvious," coach Tom Fratolillo said.
Logan said there were times during the season when the shoulder was aggravated enough that he would have to bow out of pre-game warm ups and reduce the number of pitches seen in batting practice.
The other question yet to be answered is whether outfielder Steve Yocco will follow Logan to the operating room. Yocco has been battling back problems for the past two seasons.
"Stephen is a big part of this team. With the loss of Scotty we're going to need all the help we can get. If he can't start the season, there's still a likelihood we'll see him come back and play some games but that hasn't been determined yet," Fratolillo said.
In the meantime GM Tom Fratolillo has been busy trying to plug holes in the ship. League sources report the Hammers seem to be close to re-signing former standout shortstop Rob Cinquegrano. Cinquegrano will play either third base or shortstop. Mark Free is another canidate to step in at the hot corner. There are also rumors of negotiations with the Morrell Club for either Outfielder Matt Fratolillo, infielder Rob Kane and firstbaseman Jimmy Dennis.
"You make do with what you have and you hope guys are ready to step up," Fratolillo said.
