Krista Crosson is special, one in a thousand.
That’s how Lake Stevens High School softball coach Sue Van Wyhe describes her. More than an elite athlete, Crosson brightens the lives of those around her.
“Kids all over the area look up to Krista. She’s a great player, but she’s a great person too,” Van Wyhe said of the senior pitcher.
That’s why Van Wyhe – along with Crosson’s Vikings teammates and the Lake Stevens community – is struggling to deal with Crosson’s absence. Crosson took a line drive to the mouth in the final inning of a 1-0 victory over the Cascade Bruins on Monday. As a result of the impact, she lost two teeth, spent two nights in the hospital and endured jaw surgery. Crosson, who suffered a fractured jaw, currently has her mouth wired shut and will miss four to five weeks of competition, Van Wyhe said.
Crosson, who earlier this school year accepted a scholarship to play for Loyola University Chicago, has a 5-1 pitching record this season and was headed toward a complete-game shutout victory before the injury. Last year she was 18-3 with a 0.78 earned-run average, striking out 174 batters and walking just seven in 1392/3 innings.
First-place Lake Stevens (8-0 Western Conference North Division, 8-1 overall) was 2-0 without Crosson this week – a 5-2 victory Tuesday against Snohomish and a 1-0, 11-inning triumph Thursday over Monroe. The Vikings, who had a bye Friday, have weathered an emotional storm, trying to focus while worrying about their fallen teammate.
“It’s been a very hard and trying week, that’s for sure,” Van Wyhe said. “The girls are really pulling for Krista. They really want Krista to know that they care a lot. She means so much to them.”
Lake Stevens players traveled to Providence Everett Medical Center to support Crosson on Monday night but weren’t allowed to see her. As of Thursday afternoon, Van Wyhe said the Vikings hadn’t had any face-to-face contact with Crosson since the injury.
“That’s hard on them,” Van Wyhe said, “and that’s probably hard on Krista as well. The last they saw of her she was bleeding and in a lot of pain.”
“For me as a coach,” Van Wyhe continued, “dealing with all of this has been a real (challenge regarding) keeping our team emotionally together.”
Members of the Cascade team have called to check on Crosson’s condition and the Monroe team signed and delivered a get-well card on Thursday, Van Wyhe said.
As Lake Stevens fights to control its emotions and steers toward a potential division championship, Van Wyhe hopes Crosson can soon attend games and maybe even get back on the field before the season ends.
“(Crosson) wants us to get to districts,” Van Wyhe said. “The possibility is always there.”
Even after Crosson overcomes her physical injury, she will face mental challenges when she decides to step back on the mound.
“It’ll be a hard, long haul,” Van Wyhe said. ” (But) she’s a tough kid. She’s a competitor. I have no doubt she’ll be back to her old self again soon.”
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