RINDGE, N.H. – When Stonehill’s Tim Flynn collided at home plate with Franklin Pierce catcher Eric Cavers, the play not only ended the game, but it was supposed to have ended Cavers’ regular season.

A laceration on his right knuckle reached the bone. The Oxford Hills High School graduate from Otisfield had six stitches placed above his right middle finger.

The 1-0 victory over Stonehill had extended Franklin Pierce’s winning streak to a record 12 games and the team had climbed back into the NCAA Div. II rankings at No. 25. While the team worried about finishing the season without the junior captain, Eric knew his return was imminent.

Cavers missed the Ravens’ next two contests. The swelling on his hand was too restricting. He couldn’t grip a bat or baseball effectively.

“It’s hard to watch your team lose and feel helpless on the bench,” said Cavers.

With Cavers watching from the dugout the Ravens dropped a weekend series against No. 21 Bryant College by scores of 4-0 and 3-1. That was enough motivation. Cavers could watch no more. He told his coach Jayson King he wanted to play in the doubleheader against Saint Anselm in just two days. On Monday, April 29, Cavers returned to practice stitched, taped, and ready to play.

“I had actually planned on playing the next day (April 26), but when I woke up it was swollen and sorer than I expected,” said Cavers.

After initially being told by doctors that he would miss the end of the regular season and possibly part of the postseason, he returned to the Ravens’ lineup six days faster that the 10-day diagnosis.

“This says a lot about his character: he is willing to put his team above himself,” said sophomore center fielder, Elliot Shea.

Before the injury, Cavers carried with him a 12 game-hitting streak. During the streak he batted .528 (28-53) with totals of 17 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 14 RBIs to go with five stolen bases on as many attempts. He was also named Northeast-10 Player of the Week on April 26. The loss of Cavers indefinitely would have taken a large piece out of the Ravens’ lineup.

“Eric is the best defensive and offensive catcher in the conference and there was no replacing that,” said King.

With his hand taped, Cavers returned to practice. Taking batting practice one handed, the junior stroked line drives to the outfield and even hit a few to the 400-foot marker in center field. He felt batting with one hand would allow the swelling to subside even more before the next day’s games against Saint Anselm.

“Anytime you get your best player back your going to feel more confident,” said senior captain and shortstop Jason Bourque.

Since returning Cavers has continued on his sweltering path. For the second straight week he earned Northeast-10 Player of the Week honors. Playing with the six stitches in his right hand, Eric helped Franklin Pierce return to its winning ways.

The Ravens split a doubleheader with No. 30 Saint Anselm and took two of three games of a weekend series with College of Saint Rose. For the weekend Cavers led the team with a .474 (9-19) batting average with eight runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, two stolen bases and six RBIs. He also posted a .895 slugging percentage and a .545 on-base percentage.

“You just watch the kid play he wants it more than the other guy,” said teammate Shea.

Currently, Cavers leads the Northeast-10 with a .399 (69-173) batting average, .653 slugging and .483 on-base percentage, 51 runs scored and 69 hits this season. He also is among the league leaders in RBIs (35), doubles (15), triples (4), home runs (7), walks (26), and stolen bases (18).

“Having Eric back at 80 percent to 90 percent is better than having most others at 100 percent,” said King. “He does so much offensively and defensively for us, he is a huge part of our team and getting him back one way or another is beneficial.”

Cavers’ consistent offense and defense are a key reason why the Ravens are looking at winning the program’s first NE-10 title this weekend. King realizes that Cavers is the type of athlete that many may never have the opportunity to coach in their lifetime.

“He is a special player. In the past I coached six or seven catchers who all went on to the next level,” said King. “In my eyes he is better than every last one of them.”

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