May 16, 2002

When Kurt Propst first arrived on the Missouri campus in the fall of 1997, he was getting ready to be a quarterback for the MU football team. He figured when that season ended, he would make the transition to playing baseball.

"That's pretty much what I thought," said Propst, an infielder/designated hitter from Jefferson City, Mo. "You're pretty naive when you're 18 years old and coming out of high school. Obviously, it didn't all work out the way I had hoped it would."

Propst's plans were dashed when he suffered a compound fracture in his left leg during the 1998 spring football practice sessions. That injury forced Propst to abandon his idea of playing two sports and, almost abandon his hopes of competing in collegiate athletics.

"I learned you can't take anything for granted, like the simple stuff such as walking," he said. "The little speed I did have was lost. I learned you had to put in more hard work and be dedicated to come back.

"You don't think about getting hurt," continued Propst, who will graduate Saturday with a degree in consumer and family economics. "I tried to play like every play is your last play but you really don't think about that actually happening. It put things in perspective."

Propst started the 2002 season by getting two hits in each of his first two starts. One of those hits was a grand slam against Missouri Baptist. The hit keyed a six-run first inning as the Tigers recorded a 10-4 victory.

"I remember his first pitch was a fastball and I pulled it foul," said Propst, recalling the at bat. "I think it would have been a home run if it hadn't been foul. After the way I turned on the fastball, I knew a slider was coming. He hung it and I hit it out. It was a great feeling. I've done it before in summer ball but that really doesn't count.

"This season has been disappointing. I've tried to handle it OK," he continued. "I think if I could have gotten more (playing) time, I might have gotten into a rhythm and played better."

However, things did not work out that way for Propst, who looks to contribute in other ways as the Tigers conclude the 2002 season this weekend.

"As a teammate and friend, I think I could always be counted on if it was baseball-related or not, whether it'd be school, family, girlfriend, whatever," he said. "As a player, I don't think I ever reached my full potential but I feel I'm capable of doing the best I can when given an opportunity and everyone here knows that."