Ankeny senior Avery Nelson wasn’t going to let a hairline fracture in her wrist put an end to her high school softball career.
Nelson, an outfielder, suffered the injury during the first game of a doubleheader at Urbandale on June 3.
“I was trying to rob a home run, and I knew the fence was there and I kind of just went up and my glove got caught,” said Nelson. “It kind of bent the wrong way, and I immediately knew something was wrong. When I’m really hurt and need to get pulled out of the game, that means something is really bad. It was really painful in the moment, but it’s gotten a lot better.”
The fracture was discovered the next morning, but Nelson was allowed to return to the Hawkettes’ lineup on Monday for the first game of a doubleheader at Waukee Northwest.
Nelson also started on Wednesday at Dowling Catholic and scored a run in the third inning to cut the Maroons’ lead to 4-2 before the game was suspended due to rain and lightning. A make-up date has yet to be announced.
“I’m doing PT and ultrasound stuff on it,” Nelson said after play was halted. “I’ve been working to get it better and get it better for my team. Obviously, it sucked having to sit out a couple of games and limit myself to what I can do. But in the long run, it’ll be better for myself and for the team.”
Nelson has helped Ankeny to a 4-6 record. She is batting .222 with a double and one RBI.
Nelson said her wrist feels better every day.
“I do some stretches and ice it every night,” she said. “So it’s gotten a lot better.”
Ankeny will play four games in the John Stephens Classic at Creston this weekend. The Hawkettes will face Clarinda and Atlantic on Friday before playing Dallas Center-Grimes and Bondurant-Farrar on Saturday.