Back in the swing of things

By Rob Miech

Thursday, April 24, 2008 | 2 a.m.

His rotator cuff required surgery. Chronic lung disease forced his father into early retirement. He quit attending classes.

College of Southern Nevada baseball player Brandon Trodick was a mess when coach Tim Chambers yanked his scholarship from him with Trodick’s parents at his side.

Chambers threw heat 18 months ago, telling Trodick he was on the verge of carrying a lunch pail for the next 30 or 40 years.

That confluence of circumstances triggered a waterfall of tears from the player twice drafted by the Minnesota Twins.

“A reality check,” said Trodick’s mother, Caroly. “Maybe baseball wasn’t going to be in his future?”

Chambers faced a similar crossroads about 25 years ago. Probably worse, he told Trodick, because Chambers had no father figure. If he could organize his priorities and straighten himself, so could Trodick.

“And look at him now,” Trodick said. “He has one of the best junior college programs in the nation.”

Chambers sees Trodick as a mirror image of himself and treats him like a stepson.

“Tim has taken Brandon under his wing,” said Trodick’s father, Kelly. “He told Brandon, flat out, that after his career he has a job with him.”

Trodick recorded a 4.0 grade-point average for the semester to regain his scholarship, but he rushed his return and required another operation to repair his rotator cuff — muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder.

Instead of pouting at home, however, as he did the first time, he remained in the house he rents with teammates Easton Gust and Braeden Schlehuber.

For two months they shuttled him to rehab, classes and practice, where Trodick’s quiet resolve earned admiration from every Coyote.

Stability and patience, Trodick has learned, are invaluable. A professional agent recently visited the Henderson campus and applauded Trodick’s determination and perseverance.

“A lot of people would have given up,” said shortstop Joel Reese, who played Little League with Trodick. “It takes a lot of character to come back from all that.”

Trodick is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound first baseman and designated hitter. Soon, he might return to the outfield.

Locals will recall his laser no-bounce throws to home plate from center field at Cimarron-Memorial High. He feared losing that rocket right arm because of the operations. He developed a hair-trigger temper.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to throw again,” Trodick said. “But it’s slowly coming back. It’s a tough, tough process. I was just a head case.”

Extra time in the batting cage paid off, though, as Trodick is near the top of the Scenic West Athletic Conference in hitting (.328), slugging (.491) and on-base percentage (.473).

He’s eager to provide some pop as CSN (33-14, 22-10 in league) battles Western Nevada (28-17, 22-10) and Salt Lake Community College (31-14, 23-9) for the league title with two weeks left in the regular season. The champion plays host to the SWAC tournament.

Trodick is stoic as he walks with a purpose to the outfield to shag flies in practice. He is a man of few words and a quick smile. If he’s drafted again, he’ll pick pro ball over a scholarship to UNR.

His green eyes become glassy when asked about his father’s medical condition.

During a doubleheader Saturday, Kelly Trodick will preside over a barbecue by the left-field foul line at Morse Stadium to celebrate his son’s 21st birthday.

His lung function varies daily from 30 percent to 60 percent. Prednisone helps him breathe, but it zaps the once-versatile athlete from Western High, where he met Caroly.

But Kelly Trodick’s laugh is full of life.

“I give Brandon a hard time, and he gives it back,” he said. “We’re both Tauruses, stubborn as bulls. Does he have the skill to make it? Oh, heck yeah!”