Injury forces Bartlett out

Kellen Bartlett’s first – and only – season as a player for Blue Springs Post 499/Fike has come to an early end.
The standout left-handed pitcher and first baseman, who was all-state in both football and baseball his senior year at Blue Springs South High School, is suffering from something similar to tendinitis in his left shoulder.
As a result, he has left the American Legion baseball team to concentrate on the upcoming football season at Utah State University, where he has a good shot at being a starting tight end as a freshman.
“This season with Fike certainly didn’t work out like I had hoped it would,” said Bartlett, who was an all-state tight end in 2006, an all-state defensive end in 2007 and an all-state utility player in baseball (see related story) for the Jaguars.
“I’d played on a traveling team in the past and I wanted to end my baseball career playing for the home team and just staying around Blue Springs have having fun and playing with my friends,” Bartlett said.
“Early in the season, I was throwing against a Legion team from Lee’s Summit and I was doing pretty well. I had like 14 strikeouts and threw about 99 pitches in six innings. But after the game, my arm really hurt. It didn’t hurt like it normally hurts – this was different.”
Bartlett eventually saw a doctor who told him he had something similar to tendinitis and that he should end his Legion season early.
“I’m not a quitter,” Bartlett said, emphatically. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a quitter. But the doctor said I should shut it down and I’m not going to play baseball in college.
“I’m going to play football – and I can’t do anything to risk my freshman season. Utah State will use three tight ends in some offensive formations – they have a tight end, a blocking tight end and a player like an H-back – and that’s the position they’re looking at me to fill.
“I might even get a couple of carries from the H-back spot. I have to have my arm and shoulder healthy to lift weights and get strong for this season.”
Bartlett is leaving July 12 for Utah State, as he wants to get a head start on learning the playbook.
“I want to give myself every opportunity to succeed,” Bartlett said. “I’m going to miss the guys (on Fike), but I can hardly wait to get to school and see what that’s all about.
“I’ve dreamed of playing college football as long as I can remember, and now, I’m going to get the chance to find out what it’s like.”