Cal's Henderson Injured; Return Unknown

The Cal Golden Bears softball team finds itself 9-9 in Pac 12 play after being swept in three games last weekend at Arizona State.

Cal’s All-American pitcher Jolene Henderson did not play at all in those games. She was injured in a 1-0 loss Apr. 21 at Oregon.

The Cal website doesn’t mention the extent of the injury to the former Sheldon High School star, but the school newspaper, the Daily Californian, wrote that moments after throwing the ball to first base on a come-backer, Henderson grimaced and collapsed to the ground holding her left leg. 

Cal's Jolene
Henderson

As Henderson sat down, clutching her leg, the Cal infielders surrounded their star pitcher, along with the Cal training staff. After a few minutes, Henderson was carried off the field by two trainers.

It’s been diagnosed as a knee injury and Henderson is being listed as day-to-day.

“I don’t think this injury is season ending,” said Henderson told the Daily Californian. “I expect to be out on the field before the post-season.”

Her father, Joe, told the Citizen Jolene’s rehab is progressing well, but he isn’t sure when his daughter will play again.

“If she does pitch again, it may be Sunday,” he said.

The Bears take on Stanford this weekend. With six games remaining, Cal is in fourth place in the Pac-12, five games behind first-place Oregon.

Without Henderson on the mound, the Bears are going with a pair of freshman hurlers.

Last season, Cal made it to the Women's College World Series behind Henderson's pitching. She was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team All-American honors.

Last month Henderson was the first round selection of the Chicago franchise in the women's professional softball league.