GRAVETTE -- Lindsee LaBrecque was still groggy from the anesthesia and only a few hours removed from dislocating her kneecap, but she was bound and determined to walk out of the emergency room on crutches.
That may not have been the wisest move, so Gravette softball coach Taos Jones intervened.
Lindsee LaBrecque
School: Gravette
Class: Senior
Position: P
Height: 5-9
Notable: Went 8-8 with a 3.6 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings last year. … Had a 1.22 ERA in conference play last year and a 1.36 ERA in the district tournament. … Hit .476 with a .542 on-base percentage, 11 RBIs and six runs scored. … Participated in the state’s Junior Classic Showcase. … Undecided on college destination.
"I threatened her with running or something," Jones said of his star pitcher. "Make you hop laps around the field."
LaBrecque relented and allowed herself to be wheeled out to the parking lot, but, once they got there, she was determined to show she didn't need any help getting into her father's tall truck, hopping out of the wheelchair as soon as the nurse hit the brake. And she wasn't OK with Jones' telling her to take the weekend off.
"She said, 'Nope. I'm still part of the leadership of this team and I'll be at practice tomorrow,'" Jones said.
And she was. Still on pain meds and forced to amble around on crutches, but her presence provided a big lift.
"The girls seeing her there was a big morale boost," Jones said.
LaBrecque returned ahead of schedule, only missing a few weeks, to help lead her team. It wasn't the first time she's shown her toughness in the face of injuries or illness. And it wasn't the last. She's made a habit of bouncing back stronger than ever from setbacks to lead Gravette over the last few years.
Midway through her freshman season, she took over on the mound and helped lead the Lady Lions to the second round of the state tournament. But she underwent surgery on her throwing shoulder in the offseason after tearing her labrum.
"It happened at the end of my freshman year, but I didn't have surgery until September because I thought it was just irritated," LaBrecque said. "So I went and played through summer. Come September, I couldn't lift it over my head so we went to the doctor."
Her arm was completely immobilized for a month, which made every day tasks difficult.
"I always had to have napkins everywhere," LaBrecque said. "Trying to eat spaghetti with your left hand is like mission impossible."
The shoulder injury was the first time she showcased her ability to recover quickly and work her way back faster than the doctors prognosticated. She was able to return to action in just three months, in time for the start of the season and two months faster than expected.
"Every day I was doing extra stuff," LaBrecque said. "The trainer was like you need to slow down. And I was like, 'I need to be back by the first game.' And I was."
Her latest setback came over the summer when she came down with mononucleosis and was knocked out of commission for six weeks. There's a good chance she contracted it by sharing water bottles with teammates at the state's junior showcase for top softball talent across all classifications.
"I'm unlucky," LaBrecque said.
But she thinks that luck may be changing. She's fully healthy entering her senior season. And a healthy LaBrecque has always spelled trouble for opponents.
On the mound, she went 8-8 with a 3.6 ERA last year, striking out 75 in 83 2/3 innings, impressive statistics when taking into account the loaded nonconference schedule Gravette plays each year. In conference play, her ERA dropped to 1.22. And in the district tournament, it was just 1.36
"I'm biased, but I think she's the best pitcher in the conference and has been for quite some time," Jones said. "She's not the most overpowering pitcher in the world, but she locates very well. She brings it pretty good, but her biggest advantage is she can locate all her pitches pretty well."
She's also been one of Gravette's best hitters the last few years. Last year, she hit .476 with a .542 on-base percentage.
She's been a key contributor on several talented Gravette teams, including the conference championship-winning state tournament team her freshman year and a team that made it to regionals as a sophomore.
She feels good about the Lady Lions' chances this year. And maybe just as important, she feels good physically.
"I'm good now," she said. "Good to go. This is the year of no injuries."
That could mean a big year for Gravette.
Reach Jimmy Carter at jcarter@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAJimmy.
Sports on 02/28/2015