June 10 -- Loggers third baseman Wade Gaynor was in the starting lineup Tuesday, a good sign after the sophomore from Western Kentucky was hit by a pitch on the left side of his batting helmet in the ninth inning Monday night.

Gaynor fell to the batters' box immediately after he was struck by Alexandria reliever Ben Jenzen. He got up after about a minute and was able to return to the game. He went to first base and was erased on a force at second.

"I was digging in, trying to drive the guy in from second," Gaynor said. "He threw a fastball up and in; it's part of the game."

Gaynor had tests done Monday night and again Tuesday and was cleared to play. The initial concern was a concussion, but the only damage was a sore spot where the ball hit, Gaynor said.

Like everyone else in the park, Gaynor heard the loud crack when the ball hit his helmet.

"That's the most square I've been hit on the head," Gaynor said.

Gaynor said he's been plunked in the head a number of times and expected not to have any issues when he got back in the batters' box.

"I'm not worried, not at all," Gaynor said.

Loggers fans have seen three similar scary incidents at Copeland Park.

Mike Brenly was hit on the back of the head by a pitch from Duluth's Zachary Von Tersch on June 15, 2007. Brenly was taken from the field on a stretcher for precautionary reasons and was diagnosed with a concussion. He returned 12 days later.

On July 3, 2005, LaFringe Hayes was hit by a pitch under his left eye. Facing Wisconsin left-hander Brice Wells, Hayes, a left-handed batter, lost the ball out of Wells' hand and wasn't able to get out of the way in time. Hayes returned 12 days later and finished the season.

Assistant coach Scott Gillitzer was on the 2007 staff but not at the game last year when Brenly was hit.

"That was my initial thought, was about Mike, because I know he was unconscious for a while," Gillitzer said. "(Gaynor's) looked pretty bad initially, but I think he's going to be fine. He's a pretty hard-nosed player."

Kapteyn waiting: Loggers right-hander Wade Kapteyn said a representative of the Minnesota Twins, who drafted him in the 40th round last week, called him Tuesday.

"They seemed real interested in signing me by the end of the (summer)," Kapteyn said. "Basically right now, we're working out a schedule for them to see me pitch. I just want to have a good summer. It's an option for me to sign, and if it doesn't work out, I can go back to school. If the deal is right, I might go play pro ball."

Kapteyn, a red-shirt sophomore from Evansville, is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts this season.

Roster housekeeping: The Loggers had 22 players in town Tuesday. Three of four players signed to 10-day contracts at the start of the season, OF Chris Elder, IF Randy Rundgren and RHP Tommy Peale, were extended to second 10-day contracts. RHP Scott Kuhns' contract was not renewed.

LHP Bryan Morgado is participating in Team USA tryouts. RHP David Gutierrez (Miami) and IF Derek Helenihi (LSU) are playing in the College World Series.

Four expected players will not report. IF J.R. Higley, a ninth-round draft choice of the Nationals, was prevented from coming to town because of an obscure California junior college rule regarding summer eligibility. IF Torrey Jacoby is having elbow surgery and will be out for about four months. OF Kent Walton, 42nd-round pick of the A's, and IF Travis Tucker have to take summer classes.

Bonadonna takes off: Duluth second baseman Joey Bonadonna left the team over the weekend, the Duluth News-Tribune reported. Bonadonna, in his fourth summer with the Huskies, was apparently disappointed that he was not taken in the major league draft and felt he didn't want to continue his baseball career.

Bonadonna asked for his release from the Huskies, who reluctantly granted it, and by league rules he can't play for Duluth again this season. A day later, he expressed regrets, but without a special dispensation from the league office, which the Huskies won't ask for, Bonadonna's NWL career is over. Read more about Bonadonna in the Duluth News-Tribune.

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