SOUTH ROYALTON — After losing in walk-off fashion to Woodstock last Saturday, the White River Valley baseball team was eager for Thursday’s rematch against the Wasps on its home field. But baseball became the furthest thing from anyone’s mind after two Woodstock outfielders collided while chasing a fly ball in the bottom of the second inning, and the teams agreed to suspend the game as both players were injured on the play.
The Wildcats led, 4-0, and had a runner at first base with nobody out when junior Robby McShinsky lifted a fly to right-center field. Sophomore Ben Runstein, playing right for Woodstock, had a bead on it as senior center fielder Robby Macri came closing in. Runstein made the catch and held onto the ball as the two made contact, and both players laid on the grass for several minutes.
Coaches for both teams, as well as parents and WRV athletic director Heidi Wright, rushed out to check on Macri and Runstein, and it quickly became apparent that Macri had come off worse. Wright called an ambulance to take Macri to the hospital, while Runstein was helped off the field by his teammates.
“It’s an outfield collision, (and) you never want to see those happen,” Wright said. “As athletic directors, we don’t want to see anybody get hurt. When it happened, we just have to assess the situation collaboratively. We’re committed to making sure that when somebody comes to White River Valley, if something like this transpires, we’re doing what’s best for everybody’s program.”
The two head coaches — Woodstock’s Jason Tarleton and WRV’s Devin Cilley — met with the umpires at home plate and eventually decided the game would be suspended. The teams hope to complete the contest later in the season.
After the two sides exchanged handshakes, the Wildcats went over to the Wasps’ dugout to shake hands with Runstein.
“It was scary for everybody,” Cilley said. “Our thoughts are with them, and there wasn’t really anything we could do. The boys were respectful on both sides. Hopefully when they come back, (Macri) will be in center field again.”
WRV will be back in action Friday at home against Leland & Gray, and Woodstock is scheduled to play at Rivendell on Saturday.
Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.