Injuries on rise for Rock Bridge

A hectic schedule is starting to get to the Rock Bridge softball team.

The Bruins had nearly as many opening night starters injured or sick for Monday night’s game against Helias as they had healthy.

Top pitcher Kelsey Oerly is out for the year with a pulled hamstring. Freshman ace Sadie Turnbull is week-to-week with a strained groin. Monday night’s starter, Amy Bildner, pitched four innings with one of her fingers in a splint. Outfielder Kate Rikoon was unavailable with a recurring kidney stone problem. Two other players were sick.

Their 13-3 loss to Helias hurt, too.

“We’re not down, we’re not out, but it’s a long, hard slog right now,” Rock Bridge coach Joe Henderson said. “The kids are up, and they’re playing hard. We’ll be all right.”

They haven’t had any help from their schedule, either. The Bruins (6-15) have played 16 games in the last 18 days.

“It’s tough to get well when you’ve got 11 games in a week and a half,” Henderson said. “And they are good teams we’re playing. We’re just fighting through it.”

Henderson says that while the team’s depth is not its strength, it is improving, forcing his hand.

“It has forced us to look at other kids, like Kayla Burri,” Henderson said. “And they’ve come through with flying colors.”

With Bildner, the Bruins regular shortstop, now pitching almost full time, Burri, a freshman, has been given an opportunity in the infield and made only her second start of the season on Monday.

“Coach said I’d be playing both (varsity and junior varsity),” Burri said. “It’s kind of a surprise, though.”

Burri said she hopes to play in the upcoming district playoff games, but isn’t sure if she’ll get the chance as former starters get healthy.

“They’re still part of the team. We have other players that could fill in, but we still need them,” Burri said.