Seven weeks after New Frontiersmen outfielder Matt “Marquis de” Sadewitz separated his shoulder in a diving catch, the all-star was back on the field this week kicking, running and fielding.
On Sunday, the MVP-candidate was back in right-center for the third-ranked New Frontiersmen, where he contributed to two late-night wins against the Mau Maus and Kickball Fever.
“I had to teach myself to throw lefty, but I’m happy to be back,” said Sadewitz, who has limited range in his right hand and estimates he is about 80 percent healthy.
He even served as a substitute fielder for several teams earlier in the day, including the Drinkers with a Kicking Problem, where he scrambled for a tough play against the Jorts when a kicker lined a ball to him.
League Commissioner Kevin “Commish” Dailey has been impressed with Sadewitz’s speedy recovery and his performance using his left hand.
“He can throw it pretty well,” said Dailey. “He’ll be back playing [at full strength] before the playoffs.”
Kickball analysts predicted that the New Frontiersmen would stumble while its star player was sidelined, but the kids in plaid haven’t lost a game in his absence, amassing a 13-3-1 record and talk about a Final Four appearance.
Frontiersmen Captain Mike “The Director” Altman has beefed up his outfield with competent fielders to compensate for Sadewitz’s Johnny Damon-like range. Sadewitz wasn’t really tested on Sunday, as opponents didn’t kick any balls to him.
“He’s still effective kicking,” said Altman. “He can play better than most people injured.”
Some say that Sadewitz’s return makes the New Frontiersmen unbeatable, but not everyone is impressed.
His all-star teammate, Justin “Thomas” Taylor, Brooklyn United’s captain, said that the New Frontiersmen are “one of the best teams in the league” with or without Sadewitz, but that Brooklyn United would still win if they met in the playoffs.
“We defeated the Frontiersmen at the start of the season when the Marquis de Sadewitz was healthy, so I think that we can do it again,” said Taylor.
