Reigning All-America East first team designated hitter Connor Goodman, believed to be lost for the season when he tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in an 11-4 win over Bangor’s Husson University on March 27, said he is hoping to be back in the lineup for an America East game at UMass Lowell on Friday.
“We’ve been getting good news day by day,” said Goodman, a right handed-hitting graduate student from Miami Beach, Florida. “To be able to put the uniform on and be in the lineup in some capacity is really nice. Every day is a gift at this point.”
He said he couldn’t walk the day after he got injured and an MRI revealed a PCL tear.
But he said it has gotten better and he has been rehabilitating it with the training staff. He has been taking batting practice and has been able to resume running recently and moving it laterally.
He said he has been cleared to play with a knee brace, which is expected to arrive on Thursday.
According to the OrthoInfo website, many PCL tears are partial and can heal on their own and athletes can return to sports without suffering knee stability issues. If the tears are severe, it will require surgery and a several-month recovery.
Goodman, who has been the Black Bears’ cleanup hitter, is hitting .261 this season with six runs scored and six runs batted in.
He hit .311 a year ago with two homers, 47 runs batted in and 28 runs scored. He had eight doubles.
Goodman was one of the America East-champions’ best clutch hitters with 22 of his first 42 RBIs coming off two-out hits.
“I’m here to hit and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Goodman. “I want to help the team in any way I can. I will give it everything I have.”
“It will be good to have him back,” said UMaine head coach Nick Derba. “To have him in the lineup and contributing will be huge.
“But we’re going to bring him back slowly,” Derba added.
UMaine sophomore pitcher Gianni Gambardella said having Goodman back will be “another big piece of the offense.
“That will keep everybody rolling in the dugout. He has a good attitude. He keeps everybody up,” said Gambardella.
Junior first baseman Jeremiah Jenkins said it is “awesome” to have him back.
“He has been here five years. A lot of guys look up to him as a leader in the clubhouse,” said Jenkins. “Having him back is going to be very beneficial for us.”
The Black Bears will travel to take on UConn on Wednesday at 3:05 p.m., in a non-conference game.
UConn took a 12-16 record into a Tuesday game against America East leader Bryant while UMaine is 7-19 overall.
UMaine will then play a three-game set at UMass Lowell on Friday (3 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (noon).
