Back on the mound again

As a sophomore in high school, Zac Harrington was called up from his Junior American Legion Baseball team to help Texarkana, Ark., Post 58 in the state and regional tournaments. As a junior in 2014, Harrington was Post 58’s No. 1 pitcher, going 6-1 with a 1.71 earned-run average.

But last year, Harrington was forced to watch his teammates play. During his high school senior season, Harrington suffered a partial tear in his flexor tendon and couldn’t pitch at all last summer. It also caused him to redshirt his freshman season at Southern Arkansas State University.

But Harrington is back for the Razorbacks this year. In 22 innings of work he’s 3-0 with two saves and a 0.32 ERA. He didn’t allow a run in 3.2 innings of relief work in the regional.

The numbers are great for Harrington. But being back with his teammates is what really matters.

“It’s just a great honor, really, to be able to play with these guys every day,” Harrington said. “Just having a chance to play again … really renewed my love for baseball getting to be with these guys every weekend.”

It was tough for Harrington to spend 2015 watching. “It was frustrating, not getting to be up there with those guys, seeing the things they were doing and the success they were having,” he said. “I surely wanted to be a part of that. It’s hard to sit on the side and have no control. I had faith, and God had the right plan for me. I was going to get a chance to get back out there with those guys.”

Harrington said he feels as good as he did before the injury. “It’s a long process, but I think now after playing this summer, taking all that time off to do the rehab … I think I’m 100 percent, exactly where I need to be,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to get healthy so that we could do what we’re doing this weekend.”

Playing Legion Baseball has given Harrington an appreciation for what his sponsors do. “It’s meant a lot just getting to be around all the veterans and realizing how important it is what all they do for us,” he said. “It’s definitely something I’ll never forget.”