Nivins happy playing ball
KITCHENER — Tanner Nivins was back in familiar territory Thursday night, patrolling centre field for the Kitchener Panthers at Jack Couch Park.
His place in the batting order was less than familiar, though — he was hitting ninth.
The Panthers, who hosted the undefeated Barrie Baycats Thursday night at Jack Couch Park, had the league’s reigning MVP batting last while he works his way back into playing shape.
Nivins, still recovering from an ulcerative colitis attack that caused him to lose more than 30 pounds, knows his road back will be a long process. He’s feeling slower and weaker, but happy to be back playing his first game in the field this season.
“Right now, I know I can’t expect to walk out on the field and be the guy I was the year before,” said Nivins, who is getting transfusions every two weeks to help heal his immune system. “But I still feel I can contribute, but just in a different way. So for me, there’s no pressure to perform. I don’t have to be that big guy in our lineup.”
The Panthers, who started June with a 4-1 record, are rallying around their all-star centrefielder.
“It’s good for everybody, when you see a guy bounce back from something as serious as that,” said Sean Reilly, the designate hitter. “It kind of motivates the other guys, liked what’s your excuse? You’re tired? You were up late last night? Give me a break.”
Kitchener’s first baseman Justin Interisano, hitting .476 this season, said he’s in awe of Nivins’ dedication work to get back on the field.
“It’s inspirational,” he said. “To see him back this early in the year, it’s beyond a bonus. The kid is superman, in my opinion.”
Manager Dave teBoekhorst was as surprised as everyone that Nivins was able to play so soon after being released from hospital in early May. On Sunday, he slotted Nivins into the designated hitter’s spot and says his swing looked “like nothing had changed.”
“A half-healthy Tanner Nivins is still better than most people at 100 per cent,” he said. “We’re glad to have him back.”
Barrie, winner of three consecutive league championships, came to town with four players batting above .400 — Ryan Spataro, Jordan Castaldo, Branfy Infante and Conner Morro. As a team, the Baycats arrived in Kitchener batting .364 in their first four games.
TeBoekhorst gave the task of stifling Barrie’s hot-hitting, base-stealing lineup to Ian Rendon, the Cuban left-hander back for his second season in Kitchener. But Rendon got into trouble early on when the Baycats pounced on his steady diet of breaking balls. He gave up a tworun double to Kyle DeGrace, and a two-run home run to Branfy Infante in the first, putting Kitchener in a 4-0 hole. The Panthers, swept by Barrie in the semifinals last year, had their only other loss this season at the hands of the Baycats. For a complete game story, visit therecord.com.
The Panthers travel to Hamilton Friday night, before hosting Burlington Sunday at 2 p.m. at Jack Couch Park. For more Panthers stories, visit therecord.blogs.com/panthers.