Lynn caught on outside looking in

When a team of area softball players takes on the USA Olympic team in Saturday’s 5 p.m. doubleheader at Franklin Park, conspicuous in her absence will be former Shadle Park star Ashley Lynn.

Lynn, a sophomore, was having a career season at Wichita State University when she caught a cleat during infield practice four games before the end of the season and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

She’ll suit up with the all-star team, but just three weeks removed from surgery obviously cannot play.

“When I was first invited to be on the team I was very excited,” said Lynn. “One of the first things I thought about (when she was injured) was that I wasn’t going to be able to play against them. It upset me. I was really looking forward to it.”

Wichita State was coming to the end of its first consecutive winning seasons in more than a decade. The Shockers had tied a school record with 39 wins Lynn’s freshman year and would finish this season with 38 more.

“The 77 were the most wins for the school in two consecutive seasons,” said second-year coach Tim Walton.

Lynn has been a big reason why, although she had signed with Wichita before Walton arrived.

“When I found out Tim had taken over I was really very excited,” she said. “He had major credentials.”

Walton had pitched Oklahoma to an NCAA World Series baseball championship and, after graduation, assisted softball there for four years during a national championship run.

“When I saw her play in the summer, I thought, ‘Oh, she’s going to be pretty good,’ ” said Walton. “She’s hit in the ‘three-hole’ every game she’s played at Wichita State. She’s everything I expected and then some.”

Lynn started four years at shortstop for Shadle, where her dad, George, currently coaches. Her career included a brief stint as a pitcher for the Highlanders, her senior year when she batted .475.

But it was only a prelude to more versatile things at Wichita, where Lynn has played third base, shortstop, the outfield and her most recent position, first base. Walton said he asked her to play there in order to get another bat in the lineup of his weak-hitting team.

“She didn’t come out for the rest of the year,” he said. “She’s good enough to play any of the spots, but she’s a better first baseman.”

Her hitting is sound. A batting adjustment and weight-room dedication gave Lynn a power stroke. She’s hit 18 home runs in her career. She became the school’s single-season home run record holder with 13 this year, led in hitting with a .317 average, RBIs with 39, total bases, walks and hits.

“Before I got there I’d never hit the ball over a fence,” Lynn said.

But then, in early May, came a cruel twist of fate. Wichita State was finishing up infield practice when Lynn switched directions to catch a ball and her knee buckled.

“I pretty much knew,” Lynn said. “I felt a pop in my knee, tried to put weight on it and it would give out. I was blown away that it happened, but for me to go this far without serious injury, I’ve been pretty blessed.”

She’s already working out on an exercise bike and will soon begin physical therapy. The prognosis is for full recovery by November and she hopes to be back on the diamond chasing more Wichita State records next spring.

“I hope I won’t have to redshirt,” said Lynn. “If I come back and feel I won’t be at full potential it might be an option. Right now I don’t think so.”

On Saturday, however, she’ll be relegated to the dugout, watching while her teammates get to play against Olympic gold medalists.