- May 14, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The Sharks' Adriana Boss hits a single against the Buccaneers. Photo by Ray Boone
Atlantic's Adriana Boss runs to home plate against Mainland. Photo by Ray Boone
Atlantic pitcher Payton Bryan tosses a pitch against Mainland. Photo by Ray Boone
Adriana Boss hadn’t taken an at-bat as a member of Atlantic’s starting lineup in nearly two years.
Boss, who started at second base for the Sharks in 2016, was the victim of a near-fatal hit-and-run crash in July 2016. Boss suffered a broken arm, broken leg, broken jaw and bruised lungs, among other injuries. She healed in time for the 2017 season but was not healthy enough to be a serious contributor. She was resigned to cheering on her teammates from the bench.
But a sense of calm enveloped Boss when she took to the plate in the first inning for her first at-bat of the season — and as a starter for the Sharks — against Mainland on the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Mainland High School.
Boss drilled a triple that scored three runs.
The Sharks steamrolled the Buccaneers 17-0 in a game that was called after three innings due to high school softball’s 15-run rule.
“It felt great getting to really play again,” said Boss, who also nailed an RBI single in the third inning. “I worked hard in the summer, in the offseason to get back.”
Boss was featured in Atlantic’s starting lineup as the team’s new catcher, and defensively, the Sharks never recorded an error against the Buccaneers.
“The catcher spot is something that we’ve needed for a while,” Sharks coach Jeremy Ossler said. “It’s one of the most important positions on the field, and she really earned that spot. She locked it up.”
Ossler added that he was glad to see his former starter finally return to the field.
“I mean, what could be better?” he said. “They didn’t know if she was going to be able to walk or what was going to happen, and she’s back playing the game she loves now. You can’t beat that.”
The past two years have been up and down for Boss, but things are starting to make a turn.
“I feel like everything is finally back to normal,” she said.
