Quick recovery for nationals

Harvard's Lindsay Melson delivers a pitch against Marengo on April 15. Melson earned an MVP award with the McHenry County Heatwave at the recent FAST national tournament in Florida. (Travis Haughton - thaughton@nwherald.com) (Travis Haughton ())

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Lindsay Melson knew rest and lots of ice would be key components to her recovery from a fluke injury last spring.

A lot of determination to get back on the field was what keyed the Harvard junior pitcher’s comeback most.

After a cracked rib sidelined Melson during the IHSA Class 2A state playoffs, the hard-throwing right-hander returned this summer with the McHenry County Heatwave 18U softball team and snagged game Most Valuable Player honors in the FAST national softball tournament last week in Ocoee, Fla. Melson tossed a two- hitter with five strikeouts in an 8-0 win against the Bash of Florida and was named game MVP in voting by opposing coaches. The Heatwave finished seventh.

Earning the honor so soon after an injury not only surprised the modest Melson, it reinforced the work ethic that has made her one of the area’s most dominant pitchers.

“I had it in my mind that I was going to come back quickly,” Melson said, “and I had a lot of support from my family and friends.”

Melson missed a large portion of the summer softball season while she went through rehabilitation with Crystal Lake chiropractor, Dr. Glen Matejka.

Melson never was certain what caused the rib to crack, which happened during the Hornets’ Class 2A regional semifinal against Rockford Christian. While Melson was in her windup, she felt something pop.

“[Doctors] are thinking that my muscle might have pulled away from the rib,” said Melson, “but we still don’t totally know.”

For most of the summer Melson was limited to two or three innings of work, so FAST nationals was the first tournament in which she was able to throw a complete game.

It was as if there hadn’t been an injury at all.

“She pitched a few awesome games,” said coach Connie Weathersby, who also coaches Melson at Harvard. “Being on the bench drives her crazy. She’ll ask if she can at least do a few drills. Like any good player, she just wants to be out there, and getting back out was really important to her.”

Melson had worked during the past offseason to improve her movement pitches, and the injury hasn’t seemed to have hindered any of that progress, she said.

“The movements, the locations, are all clicking even better now, and it feels like I’m at a point where I don’t have to second-guess the pitches I’m throwing,” she said. “I feel like I can throw what I want, when I want to throw it, and not worry about whether it was the right pitch.”