Sophomore second baseman Adam Runkel certainly has taken his beatings both on and off the field during his Anoka Ramsey baseball career.

In fact, the Mounds View graduate, who hit .312 with 8 stolen bases and 13 RBI as a freshman in 2008, attracts uncommon injuries. Before he even stepped on the field last season Runkel had to recover from an accident knife wound to his hand suffered while cleaning a whitetail deer that previous fall hunting season. Runkel also reportedly sustained a fillet knife wound while cleaning fish and was in a car accident (hit from behind while waiting for a turn light) on his way to school.

On the field last spring during the team’s trip to Austin, Texas, Runkel spent a few hours in the hospital to check out and patch up a head injury after he was hit by an errant ground ball. Indoors this spring, Runkel spent another afternoon in the hospital after he was hit in the head by thrown ball during a quick hands infield drill.

In the face of this penchant to attract weird injuries and the ribbing he gets from his teammates and coaches, Runkel shrugs his shoulders and flashes a sheepish smile. He refuses to back down against anything, even a sports-related sore (non-throwing arm) left elbow for which he is undergoing physical therapy.

“He will be there for the opening bell,” said head coach Tom Yelle. “He is a tough nut.”

Perhaps the toughest in Anoka Ramsey’s line up where he could bat anywhere from lead off to fifth this season while holding down the second base position.

“He is our top returning hitter and we need his presence not only at the plate, but also in the field,” said the coach. “He’s one who can rise to the occasion at a moment’s notice.”

Even if it means yielding a little blood or sustaining a bump on the noggin…