For the love of the game

Comes back from a major injury to arm

Former Del Norte Warrior Chris Prokupek throws a pitch for the Shasta College Knights this past season. Prokupek just concluded playing for the N. Nevada Bullets and will play baseball at New Mexico Highlands University. Photo courtesy of Ralph Thompson Photography

Even a serious injury that jeopardized his playing career could not stop him from making a comeback.

The 2006 Del Norte High graduate has played the sport since he was a child and said that there’s nothing quite like it for him.

“There’s nothing better than going out and trying to be better each game,” he said. “There’s something special about going out on the field and competing.”

During his first year with the  Shasta College Knights in Redding, Prokupek suffered a serious shoulder tear in his right arm, his throwing arm.

It was so extensive that he did not pitch for two years and said it looked like there was a chance he might never play again.

“That time was rough,” he said. “But I still wanted to play. I love the sport and I wanted to still be out there. I’ve been playing since I was little.”

During this time period he did play basketball for Shasta for a season but said that he knew that he still wanted to play baseball again.

Finally, in 2010, he rejoined the Knights baseball team.

“I just went out and gave it my all,” Prokupek said. “It was great to be back.”

  This past season as a redshirt sophomore, he earned the No. 1  starting pitching spot as he went 6-6 with the Knights and led them with 55 strikeouts. He was named to the second team in the Golden Valley Conference.

He just concluded pitching for the Northern Nevada Scout Team “Bullets,” a summer league team based in Reno, Nev.

 And, he recently received a scholarship to play baseball for  Division II school New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M.. The Cowboys went 27-26 this past season.

His new team is happy to have him.

“Chris is a power pitcher with a good change-up. Prok holds runners on very well, which is very important in our conference,” said John Bentley, pitching coach for New Mexico Highlands, in a Shasta College press release.  

When New Mexico Highlands offered him a scholarship, Prokupek said he jumped at the chance.

“I think it will be a good opportunity for me,” Prokupek said.

He is one of three Shasta players that signed with the school.

Prokupek said his best pitches are his changeup and fastball, which he can throw to about 90 mph.

He left Reno on Friday and will be home in Crescent City for a little bit before heading for school in New Mexico.

Prokupek moved to Crescent City when he was 2 and began playing baseball at age 5. He was a standout player on the Del Norte High baseball squad, and he played other sports like soccer and basketball.

His biggest fans have been his parents, who he said have been greatly supportive throughout his playing career.

 His parents went to almost all of his home games while at Shasta.

“We have enjoyed watching him play,” his mother, Olinda Prokupek said. “You always try to be there for your kids.”

Olinda said that she is proud of the way her son has come back from his injury.

“It was in his heart to still play,” she said. “He really wanted to be back.”

While it was an up-and-down season, with more losses than he would have liked with the Bullets, Prokupek said that it has been a great experience competing against high-caliber competition.

Last weekend, Prokupek and the Bullets played against the Humboldt Crabs in Arcata in their final games of the season.

In a 5-4 win on Saturday, Prokupek pitched  the final  inning with one strikeout and no hits for the save. He also batted ninth and went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

“It was good to be back on the coast,” he said.

Several family members and friends were there to cheer him on. And members of the  Del Norte Warriors football team, who were at a gridiron camp in the area and attended the game, gave him an enthusiastic chant after the contest.

“That was pretty cool,” Prokupek said.

A scout for the Bullets recently suggested to him that he should look at playing professional baseball in Europe once he graduates.

He said it is something he  certainly is considering.

“That would be the dream right there,” he said.