Basic’s Romo contributes in other ways as she battles injury

Lacey Romo was set to finish her softball career at Basic High on a high note.

After earning first-team all-state honors last season, the senior pitcher appeared primed for more accolades and to lead the Wolves on a deep postseason run.

If only her right arm would cooperate.

Romo, who posted 267 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA in 171 innings last year, has spent more time in doctors’ offices and hospitals than in the pitching circle this year.

A torn labrum in her throwing shoulder led to surgery in December, and procedures attempting to cure tendinitis in her arm have delayed her full recovery.

“It’s been very hard. I thought this was going to be our year,” Romo said. “When they told me I had to have the surgery, I cried. When I had the first PRP (plasma replacement procedure), I cried. There’s nothing I could do about it.”

But the setbacks haven’t stopped Romo from helping her team.

She has taken on the role of a pitching coach for the Wolves, mentoring the young pitchers and catchers and even calling pitches from the dugout.

“It’s how I keep myself in the game,” said Romo, who has pitched sparingly for the Wolves this season. She didn’t get doctor’s clearance to play until two weeks into the season and didn’t pitch in a game until March 31.

Romo pitched through pain last season, and when physical therapy didn’t solve the problem, she had surgery.

Discomfort in her arm after a preseason scrimmage led to Romo having the first PRP. Doctors took plasma from her blood and applied it to a tendon in her throwing arm, hoping to heal and strengthen it.

“I’m probably at like 80 percent,” said Romo, who has physical therapy three times a week and had a second PRP on Friday. “I just need to get stronger.”

She’s back in the Wolves’ lineup, giving Basic a boost on offense and giving her teammates someone to look up to.

With Romo unable to pitch consistently, the load has fallen on younger players, with freshman Tiana Tapuala seeing more time in the circle.

“She’s like a coach to me,” Tapuala said. “I’m thankful she’s here because if she wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have a pitching coach or anyone helping me pitch. She helps me with my pitches. Hearing it from her helps. She’s been through it, and she knows what I need to do.”

Romo also helps sophomore catcher Leah Causey with where to set up to give pitchers a good target.
When she’s not on the field, Romo sits on a bucket in the dugout and calls pitches.

“It was her idea, and she’s done a great job with it,” said Basic coach Bart Black. “She knows these players. She goes against them all summer. She knows them way better than I do. She knows more about pitching than I ever will.”

And Black has seen the results of Romo’s work with Tapuala.

“Tapuala’s progression has just grown exponentially because of Romo’s help,” he said. “She talks about the physical aspects, where to release the changeup, how to hold the curve, but I’d say it’s more of the mental stuff ... how to dig deep and pitch out of a jam, how to pitch with an 0-2 count, where to pitch batters.

“She’ll be a great coach,” Black added.

Romo eventually wants to be a softball coach, but playing remains her priority. She hopes to be back to full strength in June and open the eyes of college coaches this summer.

“I lost a couple of scholarships because of my arm,” she said.

The Wolves are three games out of the final playoff spot in the Southeast League with three games left, and Romo’s dreams of a fantastic ending to her senior season are fading.

But her contributions to Basic’s program probably won’t be done when the season concludes.

“Because of all the influence she’s had this year, I feel pretty good about where Basic is going to be the next few years,” Black said. “That kind of attitude gets ingrained in a program and it just carries on.”