Elbow Surgery Puts Kempton Out for Season

Cal State Northridge senior right-hander Keven Kempton, an iron man who completed 13 of his 15 starts last year, will undergo reconstructive surgery on his right elbow Monday and will miss the remainder of the season.

As a junior, Kempton was 10-4 with an earned-run average of 3.99. He was expected to be the Matadors’ top pitcher this season, but has struggled in each of his four appearances.

Kempton will have surgery performed Monday by Dr. Ronald Glousman of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Inglewood. He learned of the elbow damage Wednesday and a follow-up exam Thursday confirmed that he has torn a tendon.

“When he told me, tears rolled down my cheeks,” Kempton said.

Kempton was 0-3 with an ERA of 7.71 and surrendered 38 hits in 25 2/3 innings. Opponents were batting .330 against him. In his last outing, Northridge was battered by Florida, 14-2, in a performance that he called “embarrassing.”

Kempton, a transfer from East L.A. College, said rehabilitation is expected to take nine months, but his career isn’t necessarily over. He might be granted a medical redshirt season by the NCAA.

Kempton, who never used his redshirt year, was told by a Northridge athletic administrator that he likely will be eligible next year since he has not played in more than 20% of the Matadors’ games this year.

Junior right-handers Rick Orr (0-1, 3.00 ERA) and Aaron D’Aoust (2-0, 2.13) are the favorites to take Kempton’s place in the three-man starting rotation, joining senior Marco Contreras (1-3, 4.50) and junior John Najar (2-2, 5.59).

For the Matadors, this is familiar territory. Last season, No. 1 starter Steven Morales missed the season because of elbow problems, forcing Kempton and his mates to pick up the slack.

Kempton said he is committed to making a complete comeback.

“When God gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?” he said. “If I could have had the surgery done (Thursday), I would have done it. I’m going to grow up because of this. I’m as determined as a guy can be.”

The loss of Kempton--who beat four of six nationally ranked opponents he faced last season--marks the team’s second blow.

Earlier, the Matadors lost first baseman Andy Shaw to knee surgery. Shaw was expected to provide power in the middle of the lineup.