Published: May 17, 2008 12:48 am      

Winkler honored as Central rolls past Lee County

RICHMOND — It wasn’t the way Daniel Winkler imagined he would throw the final pitch of his high school baseball career.

Still, considering all that he has been through in the past week, things could have been much, much worse.

Winkler took the mound for one last time Friday on crutches and the threw one unofficial pitch as Madison Central (17-10) took on Lee County on Senior Night.

He watched the rest of the game from the dugout as the Indians rolled to a 10-0, five-inning victory at Don Richardson Field.

“It made me feel like I was actually part of Senior Night,” Winkler said. “I got to go out there and start the game.”

Winkler suffered a badly broken leg and his sister broke her cheek bone when the senior’s truck collided with a delivery truck May 7 on the way to school.

Before his injury, Winkler had started to emerge as one of Central’s top pitchers. In five games he had a 2-1 record and a 5.23 earned run average. He had also struck out 19 batters in 21 1/3 innings.

“That’s what really sucks about it,” Winkler said of the injury. “I feel like I’d gotten a lot better this year.”

Madison Central coach Steve Roof wanted the injured senior to throw out the first pitch and with the blessing of the Lee County coaching staff and the umpires, he got a special opportunity to take the mound once again.

After the pre-game festivities, the Indians quickly jumped on top of Lee County. Central got a run in the first on an Austin Hunt fielder’s choice, then tacked on four more in the second.

Jon McQuarter had a two-run double, Tyler Weaver had an RBI single and Drew Park added a sacrifice fly as the lead grew to 5-0.

In the third, A.J. Roberts, Tyler Mays and Weaver all had run-scoring singles. The Indians then wrapped up the win with two more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a Zac Coldiron single and a Hunt double.

Jordan Horn (3-1) started and went four innings, allowing four hits, while striking out one and walking one. Coldiron pitched the final inning, giving up a walk and a hit.

The win was the fifth straight for the Indians and improved their record at home to 9-1.

Central returns to action Tuesday against Madison Southern in the opening round of the 44th District Tournament at Turkey Hughes Field.