Hernandez Needs TJ Surgery; Last Game For PG's McKeever?

Former Elk Grove H.S. and CRC pitching star David Hernandez will likely sit out the 2014 Major League Baseball season for an injury that will require "Tommy John" surgery on his throwing arm.

Hernandez, a key reliever on the pitching staff of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was diagnosed with a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and will seek a second opinion, the D-backs reliever confirmed Friday.

"It's just a tough pill to swallow," Hernandez told the MLB Network.

Hernandez said that team physician Michael Lee diagnosed the tear and as is standard operating procedure he will seek a second opinion, though as of Friday morning he was not sure which doctor he would go to for it.

If Hernandez does indeed need Tommy John surgery, the recovery time can range anywhere from 12 to 18 months.

Losing Hernandez for the 2014 season is the second damaging injury the D-backs have suffered this month. Just two weeks ago ace Patrick Coleman was diagnosed with a UCL tear and he underwent surgery Tuesday.

Hernandez, 28, was one of the National League's best setup men in 2011 and 2012 before struggling last season.

However after finishing with a strong September, Hernandez worked hard during the offseason and reported to camp having lost weight and regained his confidence. His outings in the spring drew praise from general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson.

Hernandez projected to be the eighth-inning setup man for closer Addison Reed.

Will Tonight Be PG Coach McKeever's Last?

There's a rumor going around the Pleasant Grove campus that tonight's girls' state championship basketball game will be coach James McKeever's last. But, he won't be going very far.



The word is that he wants to take over the boys' program at PG. John DePonte resigned the post at the end of the boys' season. Last year, the Eagles won the State Championship in Division I.

McKeever has been PG's only girls basketball coach. The Lady Eagles take on Canyon Springs of Moreno Valley tonight at 6 p.m. at Sleep Train Arena for the Division I CIF State Basketball Championship.

Baseball, Softball Notes ...

If you want to see a decent baseball game tonight around Elk Grove, drop by the diamond at Laguna Creek and watch the Cardinals host Franklin. Josh Congress is slated to start for the Cardinals against a Wildcat team that lost a tough 1-0, nine-inning decision yesterday to Davis.

Elk Grove is at Monterey Trail, a team still searching for a win. The Herd's reserves could easily win this game and likely they will.

Delta River League baseball starts next week, but the softball slate started in a big way as Sheldon defeated defending Section runner-up Pleasant Grove, 3-2.

DRL baseball starts on Monday with Pleasant Grove facing Oak Ridge. The DRL teams set it up where the same pair of clubs face each other on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule in a five-day span. The Eagles are 4-1, losing Tuesday at Granite Bay.

Sheldon (2-3) will take on Ponderosa next week.

Cancer Benefit Postponed

The Albie Swingin’ for Life softball tournament scheduled for  Saturday at St. Francis High School has been postponed. School officials say it was because of the pending forecast for rain all day. The tournament will be rescheduled, officials say.