Two Mount Carmel softball players who collided are “home, doing better and in concussion protocol,” Mount Carmel coach Curtis Matthews said Friday after his team’s game Thursday against Chapelle was halted in the fifth inning after the collision.
The teams will resume play 5 p.m. Thursday at Muss Bertolino Playground with Chapelle leading 2-0 with two outs, a runner on third base and Chapelle batting in the top of the fifth.
One run scored as Mount Carmel left fielder Claire Murphy and shortstop Hayden Traub collided as each attempted to catch a fly ball hit to shallow left field.
Murphy remained on the field for an extended period. She was taken off while on a stretcher and with her neck in a brace. Traub walked off under her own power.
Early Friday, the Mount Carmel softball Twitter page posted a photo of Murphy and Traub smiling together at the hospital.
“An evening of competition and desire to win quickly turned into an evening of tears, prayers, unity and support,” the post read. “It was a scary play but glad our players are ok. Thank you (Chapelle softball) for the support and sportsmanship showed last night.”
An evening of competition and desire to win quickly turned into an evening of tears, prayers, unity and support. It was a scary play but glad our players are ok. Thank you @ChapelleSoftba1 for the support and sportsmanship showed last night. @mcacubs https://t.co/Cft5xpBgvT pic.twitter.com/vSWtudq2ge
— Mount Carmel Academy Cubs Softball (@MCA_Cubs_sb) March 24, 2023
Mount Carmel and Chapelle, each at 2-0 in the district, were playing for a chance to clinch a share of the Catholic League championship. Instead, the teams will each play another district game before they resume their suspended game.
On Tuesday, Mount Carmel will face Dominican (2-1 in district) at Harahan Playground while Chapelle plays at John Curtis (0-2). Both games are set for 5 p.m.