LSU center fielder injured sunday

[WarTiger 3,916]

Baton Rouge - LSU freshman centerfielder Chris Sciambra is out for the season but with a prognosis of 100 percent recovery after suffering a frightening neck injury suffered in Sunday's 4-3 victory at Auburn.

Sciambra has two fractures in a vertebra in his neck and a concussion after attempting a diving catch on a ball hit into the left center field gap, his father, Jay Sciambra, said. He added there was no damage to the spinal cord or any other neurological issues.

The elder Sciambra said his son is resting at his Baton Rouge home and will be in a neck brace for 12 weeks, followed by a stretch of rehabilitation. But he said he feels "unbelievably fortunate" the injury wasn't much worse.

"He's the most lucky kid," the elder Scimabra said. "He's in good spirits. We could be having such a different conversation today. The prognosis is for 100 percent recovery."

The younger Sciambra attempted a diving catch in left center field and his head collided with the base of the outfield wall at the same time as his body hit the ground. His body went heels over head before crumpling to the ground.

Scimabra was first diagnosed with a concussion and walked off the field with help. The fractures were discovered by Dr. Michael Goodlett, the Auburn team physician, after further examinations, which included a CT scan, an MRI and X-rays.

Sciambra praised Auburn's medical staff and Athletic Director Jay Jacobs for "treating him like their own." Goodlett delcared Sciambra in stable condition but said it wouldn't be a good idea for him to ride home in a car or bus. Jacobs authorized the use of an Auburn Univeristy Lear jet, Jay Scimabra said.

Because of NCAA rules, Jay Scimabra was not allowed to fly home with his son, but Goodlett accompanied him on the flight. They met Chris Sciambra's mother, Ellen, and LSU team physician Dr. Henry Eiserloh at Alex Box Stadium.

The only thing about this that I question, is: what was wrong or against NCAA rules that the kids father couldn't fly with his son that quite possibly could have been severely injured? There are times when the rules the NCAA has in place make no sense at all, and this is one of them.

[BigBlue 0]

i agree-- This reminds me of when UGA wanted to pay the expenses for a Boise State Player's Dad, whom was serving in Iraq, to attend the game. Sometimes i really wonder about the NCAA.

[AFTiger 282]

Auburn was put on probation in tennis because the coach allowed the father of one his players to spend he night in the coach's motel room.

[autigeremt 6,667]

Great job by the Auburn Athetics staff and medical crew!!!! AUsome to see this in print on the Bayou. WDE! Glad the kid is going to be ok.

[cptau 169]

Auburn and UK seem to take care of the opposing players just like their own. Auburn for this LSU player and UK for Tebow.

Tebow was hit hard in a game at Lexington and his head then hit his own lineman's leg. The Florida coaches pulled him from the game but did not send him for medical attention. The UK medics saw Tebow throwing up and acting disoriented on the sidelines. They told Florida, he's got to go to the hospital now...

A certain player in Tuscaloosa might be in the NFL today, if he had gotten hurt at Auburn or Lexington.

[AUn Collierville 1]

More comments from LSUSports.net and a couple of tweets.

lsufootball.net ‏ @lsufootball_net Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

MT @valleyshook: Thanks should go out to @autigerbaseball for the medical care and use of the univeristy's LearJet in getting Sciambra home

Retweeted by Auburn Baseball

26 Mar Seth Mansfield ‏ @smansf1 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

@AUTigerBaseball Special thanks for the help & compassion shown to our baseball player, Sciambra #sportmanship #WhyTheSECisTheBest

http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27865&SPID=2173&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205404568&DB_OEM_ID=5200

LSU Thanks Auburn for Handling of Injured Player

Published: March 27, 2012, 11:51 AM (CT)

Updated: March 27, 2012, 12:53 PM (CT)

by Bill Franques, Sr. Associate SID

BATON ROUGE - LSU thanks Auburn University and its athletic director, Jay Jacobs, for the attention given to LSU centerfielder Chris Sciambra who was injured during LSU's game at Auburn on Sunday.

Sciambra, a freshman from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, suffered a non-displaced fracture in the C-1 vertebra of his neck after crashing into the centerfield wall Sunday while try to catch a fly ball.

Besides the medical attention given to Sciambra by the Auburn medical staff during the game, Jacobs authorized an Auburn University plane to transport Sciambra back to Baton Rouge.

"This was a wonderful show of school-to-school camaraderie that is greatly appreciated by LSU," said Joe Alleva, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. "An injury of this type can be particularly harrowing for a young student-athlete and Auburn's actions helped alleviate the problem of getting Chris back to Baton Rouge. My thanks to Jay Jacobs for his generosity."

"The actions of the Auburn staff during and after the game made a frightening situation much more comfortable for Chris and all of us at LSU and we all appreciate the generosity of Jay Jacobs in bringing Chris back home," said head coach Paul Mainieri. "One of the great things about the SEC is the sportsmanship exhibited between schools, and this is just another example of that spirit."

Sciambra will miss the remainder of the 2012 baseball season but is expected to have a full recovery.