Clemson's Widmann likely out for the season

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Clemson shortstop Stan Widmann said Thursday he will probably miss the rest of the season with a neck injury that has bothered him the past three weeks.<br> <br> Widmann does not want to disclose his precise injury, although Clemson&#39;s longtime team doctor described it as deterioration of the front vetebra. Widmann said there was a chance he&#39;ll head to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for additional tests, but from everything he has learned, Widmann says he&#39;ll likely need surgery that would keep him out for the year.<br> <br> ``That&#39;s what it&#39;s looking like right now,&#39;&#39; Widmann said. ``With all the doctors I&#39;ve talked to right now, it kind of rules out playing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The injury is not expected to end his playing career, he said, which is good news for Clemson fans.<br> <br> Widmann was part of what coach Jack Leggett called one of the best infields in the country. Widmann was alongside senior third baseman Marquez Smith, junior second baseman Taylor Harbin and senior first baseman Andy D&#39;Alessio, who were all back after leading last year&#39;s Tigers to the College World Series.<br> <br> And Widmann was one of Clemson&#39;s hottest bats, hitting .409 with six RBIs in six games.<br> <br> ``Anytime anyone goes down it&#39;s disappointing,&#39;&#39; Widmann said. ``With my competitive nature, it really stinks that I can&#39;t help the team.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Widmann, from Hurst, Texas, said he first felt the pain about three weeks ago, and brushed it off as a ``crick in the neck.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> But with each lunge and dive, the pain increased.<br> <br> During the first game of a double header sweep of Pacific on Feb. 24, Widmann dove to make a play and the pain ``was worse than it had been.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He stretched between innings, but finally told Leggett that he ``wasn&#39;t going to do the team any good going back out there like this.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Widmann has not played since. He had started 133 games at shortstop his first two seasons, and all six this season until he took himself out.<br> <br> With Widmann gone, Leggett moved second baseman Taylor Harbin to shortstop and put freshman J.D. Burgess in Harbin&#39;s slot.<br> <br> The shuffled infield may have cost Clemson a game against rival South Carolina last Sunday. With runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Gamecocks catcher Trent Kline slapped a hard grounder to short that Harbin couldn&#39;t handle. The bobble allowed the winning run to score in South Carolina&#39;s 3-2 victory.<br> <br> Some wondered if Widmann could have turned a double play.<br> <br> ``Taylor&#39;s probably the best fielder on our team,&#39;&#39; Widmann said. ``He makes that play nine times out of ten.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Widmann talked with Harbin the next day and told him to keep his chin up, Clemson would need him through the long Atlantic Coast Conference season. ``He&#39;s going to be a wonderful shortstop,&#39;&#39; Widmann said.<br> <br> Widmann would have a decision to make once he recovers from any surgery he becomes draft eligible after this season.<br> <br> Right now, Widmann says he would probably return and continue work on his sports management degree.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m just trying to do what&#39;s best for me and the team,&#39;&#39; he said. ``The best option is to come back and play another year.&#39;&#39;

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/3/93921