Sharperson’s Teammates Deal With Death

It went into the record books as a split, but winning and losing didn’t mean that much to the Las Vegas Stars still in mourning over the death of teammate Mike Sharperson.

“We could have won a doubleheader, we could have lost a doubleheader - it just didn’t matter,” Stars manager Jerry Royster said. “Just to get dressed today and go out there and face people under what these guys have been under. I’m really proud of those guys.”

Baseball was played again Monday night at Cashman Field, where the Stars lost to Edmonton 5-4 before coming back to win the second game 3-2.

The doubleheader was necessary because Sunday’s game between the two teams was cancelled out of respect to Sharperson.

Players wore black patches on their uniform tops in memory of the 34-year-old Sharperson, who was killed in a one-car accident early Sunday as he went to the airport following a call up to the San Diego Padres.

“If I had my choice, I wouldn’t play. I didn’t want to play,” outfielder Ira Smith said after the games. “I was emotionally out of it. Sitting here now, I don’t know how I made it through.”

Players formed a circle around third base, where Sharperson played, and observed a moment of silence prior to the games.

Paul Russo, who replaced Sharperson at third, could be seen weeping into a towel in the dugout between innings.

“He’s having a real hard time being the guy to replace (Sharperson), he doesn’t want to do that,” Royster said.

“The hardest part of today was getting them on the field after the national anthem. That was really tough. Rob Deer couldn’t even get on the field. He couldn’t stop crying.”