Police: Nevada pitcher died of self-inflicted wound

[letsgobows]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2422984

Police officials said Wednesday that an 18-year-old University of Nevada pitcher died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a report on the Reno Gazette-Journal's Web site.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office said deputies arrived at Steve Masten's home Monday and saw that he had been shot. The report said Masten was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he died Tuesday of his injuries.

Deputy Michelle Youngs, office spokeswoman, told the Gazette-Journal that investigators determined the shooting was self-inflicted.

"The death of Steve Masten is a tragedy for the community and has created extremely difficult times for the Masten family," Youngs said.

Masten's mother, Lisa, said late Tuesday the family is requesting privacy.

"This has been extremely tough on all of us,'' she told the Gazette-Journal. "He had a bright future in any route he decided to take. It's an unfortunate thing that happened and we have to move on. We loved him dearly.''

As a senior in high school, Masten was named northern Nevada's pitcher of the year in Class 4-A for the largest schools and was considered a pro prospect.

"Steven was a wonderful student-athlete with a bright future,'' Nevada Coach Gary Powers said in a statement released by the athletic department.

"He will be deeply missed by everyone in the Wolf Pack baseball family. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family,'' he said.

Nevada athletic director Cary Groth said the university community wanted to extend its deepest sympathy to Masten's family.

"Our priority is to provide whatever support we can to his family, our student-athletes and coaching staff,'' Groth said in a statement.

The athletic administrator at his high school in Spanish Springs, a suburb north of Reno, said the incident was "very saddening'' and came as "quite a shock.''

"We are just shaking our heads and can't believe it,'' Doug Parry told the Gazette-Journal.

"This hits us all pretty hard. Obviously our baseball team is aware of it. We are prepared here through our counseling offices and the school district resources to help the students here try to deal with this,'' he said.

Masten, a left-hander, was 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in eight appearances this season. He last pitched for Nevada on April 14 against Hawaii. His first collegiate win came March 18 with 3 1/3 innings of relief in a 17-10 victory over Northern Illinois at Reno.

[jr97124]

Very sad, prayers go out to his family and teammates.

jr97124