Perservering Giardina continues comeback in Kernels' 10-1 loss

CEDAR RAPIDS - No regrets.

“I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason,” Cedar Rapids Kernels relief pitcher Carmine Giardina said last night after his team's 10-1 loss to South Bend at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “This is God's plan for me. I've learned a lot. Learned how to deal with adversity and bounce back.”

Giardina threw two scoreless innings to highlight a mostly forgettable outing for the Kernels (9-11), who lost for the 10th time in their last 14 games. The lefty continues to try and bounce back from the Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery he had a year ago.

That's just the latest obstacle for a guy once considered a top prospect. Giardina, 24, was ranked 14th among all preps by Baseball America in the 2006 draft class but ended up not getting selected until the 28th round by the Boston Red Sox because of what were believed to be high signing bonus demands.

The Valrico, Fla., native pitched four mostly non-descript seasons of college baseball at Central Florida and Division II Tampa. He didn't sign in 2009 after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the 28th round, finally turning pro after the Los Angeles Angels took him in the 15th round in 2010.

College seniors have no leverage in contract negotiations, so it's fair to say Giardina lost a lot of potential money. Not that he thinks much about that.

He ended up getting his degree in sports management at Tampa and is working toward an MBA. And he's still playing baseball. ---- “There have been a lot of downs,” Giardina said. “But it's been good. I've learned a lot, grown a lot. I have no regrets about it.”

Giardina was shut down early after developing shoulder problems at Rookie-level Orem in 2010. He rehabbed during the offseason but blew out his elbow throwing a pitch in live batting practice the following spring training.

In short, nothing in his baseball life has gone the way he planned since high school.

“I'm here,” he said. “I feel blessed and thankful to be able to be here and play this game.”

South Bend (12-8) outhit Cedar Rapids, 17-4, having every starter get at least one hit. Not the way Cedar Rapids wanted to begin a nine-game homestand.

The teams play again Friday night at 6:35.

“I thought we had good energy tonight,” said Kernels Manager Jamie Burke. “It was just one of those nights where their pitching staff just shut us down.