UL pitcher Faught back, goes 12-0 after surgery

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. -- Austin Faught's season-long comeback story contains components that would make most pitchers envious.
Instead of pitching off the mound, the University of Louisiana senior spent all of 2004 undergoing post-surgical therapy.

Several months later, despite his physical and mental doubts following elbow tendon repair, Faught has been a study in perfection.

This year the left-hander is 12-0 and was recently named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Faught, who will probably start ULL's Saturday game in the New Orleans regional, said this season has exceeded his expectations.

"Looking back on the surgery and my record this season, I couldn't have predicted this kind of comeback," Faught said.

About two years ago Faught's pitching career was clouded with doubt.

On May 4, 2003, he pitched his final game of the season at Nebraska, ending the year in pain at 4-3 with a 4.08 earned run average.

It was obvious at that point, according to ULL baseball coach Tony Robichaux, that Faught needed surgery to fix the elbow.

Faught's problem was what those in baseball circles call a Tommy John injury, named after the former major league pitcher who popularized the now routine surgery.

Robichaux said the surgery usually means doctors remove tendons somewhere else in the body such as the wrist and then re-attach that tendon to the elbow.

"Austin's surgery was regular surgery and if all goes well, it will normally lead to a full comeback," Robichaux said. "The question is always in postsurgery. When would Austin be able to make a complete comeback and how successful would that be?"

Faught, who transferred to UL from the University of Houston following the 2002 season, said the rehabilitation was tedious.

"I knew the surgery had to be done, there was no doubt," Faught said. "If I would have listened in the first place to my body, I probably would not have been hurt.

"Nothing is ever guaranteed. I know last year when I was rehabbing, I had some tendonitis. That's when I wasn't sure what was really happening."

If there were any lingering questions about recovery, Faught put those two rest in is his first outing this season against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 12. In that game Faught allowed one run on five hits in six innings.

Eight days later, Faught struck out six in eight innings, earning a win against Northwestern State.

<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/060205/spo_ull001.shtml">The rest of the comeback story</a>

By BOBBY ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate <!--

Then 2-0, Faught struck out three in five innings at Wichita State March 1 and improved to 4-0 with a win 12 days later against St. John's at Tigue Moore Field.

By April 23, Faught was 8-0 after pitching eight innings against Florida International.

In his 88 innings this year, Faught has struck out 69 and walked 33.

All of Faught's appearances this season have been as a starter. He has also compiled a 2.45 earned run average after allowing 67 hits.

Robichaux said ULL's 47-win regular season played a big part in motivating Faught's rehabilitation and as well as his desire to pitch.

"Although the Tommy John surgery usually works, the jury's out until you go through rehab and then come back on that mound," Robichaux said.

"I think having a potentially very good team that had 16 seniors, with a chance at going to postseason, played a big part in Austin's comeback process. It was in his best interests to try to get ready to pitch again."

Faught said he heard of ULL's baseball program, but he didn't become acquainted until his sophomore year at Houston, while struggling with a 1-3 record and a 5.07 earned run average.

"We came over here to play (ULL) and I remember then thinking this might be a good place to go if I decided to transfer anywhere," he said.

Robichaux said a coaching acquaintance in the Houston area where Faught is from, recommended Faught after the pitcher obtained his release from Houston.

Faught said at that stage of his career, he was ready for a change.

"I was aware of the tradition this program (at ULL) has and now I couldn't imagine what my career would have been like if I hadn't transferred," Faught said. "At Houston, I was getting enough playing time. That wasn't the issue.

"My sophomore year just wasn't as good for me as the previous season. Coming to (ULL) was simply a career decision I felt I had to make because of some things that were going on."

Before the surgery, Faught said he relied more on his slider than he does now.

"I still throw it, but I pick my spots," he said. "I'm focusing more on my fastball and changeup."

Robichaux said that decision was important.

"What has made Austin's season so far is his ability to locate his pitches and work his changeup off the fastball," Robichaux said. "What he does is throw the changeup and fastball off the same plane, so that the batter is a little confused."
-->