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Saturday, May 27, 2000

Line drive
breaks jaw
of Komine

All-American was
cruising along with
a two-hitter

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Shane Komine is in high spirits despite a broken jaw, said his mother, Donna.

The Nebraska All-American pitcher from Kalani High School sustained the injury yesterday in a 2-1 victory over Butler in an NCAA Regional opener in Minneapolis.

"I would think he's done for the season, if we get past this tournament," Cornhuskers coach Dave Van Horn said after his sophomore ace was taken to the University Hospital in Minneapolis.

Komine had struck out 12 batters in 7-2/3 innings when he took a line drive off his jaw from Butler's Eddie Olazta. The right-hander had given up just two hits before the injury.

Earlier in the day, Collegiate Baseball released its All-America team, of which Komine is a member as a first-team pitcher.

"It was a day of highs and lows," Donna Komine said. "I talked to (Cornhuskers catcher) Justin Cowan's parents and Shane's pitching coach, Rob Childress. They said it was two clean fractures. I talked to Shane, and he couldn't speak clearly, but he seemed to be in high spirits."

She said her son will have to have his mouth wired shut for 6-8 weeks.

The mother also said broadcast reports that Komine planned to play summer ball for the Hawaii Island Movers were inaccurate.

"He was planning on taking a break and resting his back this summer," she said.

Komine was 10-3 in the regular-season with a 2.20 ERA.

Stanford junior right-hander Justin Wayne, a Punahou graduate, was also named to the Collegiate Baseball first-team.

Pepperdine junior catcher Dane Sardinha, a Kamehameha graduate, was selected to the third team.