The California Lumberkings won their opening night game in Niagara Falls, Ontario, at the Snapper Shootut, a 6-2 win over Ohsweken, but it was a costly win, as they suffered the loss of second baseman Kevin Castillo, whose ankle was broken by a sliding baserunner. It was just a week or so ago that Castillo was named to TEAM USA Men’s Softball team. We are told the injury will require surgery, and that Kevin is expected to be out at least 6-8 weeks.
Kevin was taken to the hospital in St. Catherine’s, just down the road from Niagara Falls. We were told that they would not accept his insurance, and told him that it would cost $3000 for an ambulance ride to a Buffalo, New York area hospital, about a half hour away.
The team paid for the doctors to put Kevin in a soft cast, and his teammates drove him to the Buffalo hospital. They were just pulling into the Buffalo hospital about 3:00 a.m. New York time when I spoke with them by phone.
Meanwhile, back in the “other” Ontario — Ontario, California, Kevin’s mother and father (Paul Castillo) were racing to catch a midnight flight to Buffalo to meet up with Kevin, and are expected to arrive by 11:00 a.m. Buffalo time. We caught up with Kevin’s dad just as they were boarding, so they will arrive Saturday morning.
If Dan Bernard or Jay Paylove, or any Snappers read this post, (and have not already spoken with Lumberking’s manager David Weldin, please call him at 661.472.1716, as he was trying to reach you about the tournament’s insurance information.