RAPID CITY - Two years ago Brandon Rainford was throwing 85 mph as a 16-year old pitcher and his future looked promising. That is until one day, in an instant, Rainford felt his arm tingle from around his elbow to his pinkie finger. After a couple innings, he couldn't even hold his arm up it was so painful.

Amazingly, Rainford pitched the rest of his 16-year old season before finally seeing a series of doctors. The last doctor he saw told him within 15 minutes that he needed ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction or what is commonly referred to as Tommy John surgery.

"My ulnar collateral ligament ripped completely," said Rainford, who had two surgeries done in July 2008. "They drilled holes in my elbow and cut out a tendon on my wrist. But by the time you're finished they make sure everything is really tight."

Rainford who was pitching for Post 22 at the time of the surgery had to sit out the entire baseball season last summer. For six months he did therapy two to four times a week and every other week he could move his arm five more degrees. Finally after six months he started a throwing program with the Batter's Box's Jason Herz.

"When he came in he was in the very early stages of rehabbing," said Herz, who is the head coach of the Sturgis American Legion team. "There are a lot of pretty detailed rehab programs for Tommy John, and his dad brought one in and we followed it to a tee. We took it nice and slow because he's got a bright future ahead of him."

Eighty-five percent of pitchers who have the Tommy John surgery are successful, according to the USA Today, and after Rainford's he decided he was going to switch to play for Post 320.

"It was really hard not being able to play because I love playing baseball," said Rainford. "The procedure used to have about a 50 percent success rate, but now it's much higher. I knew if I worked hard I could make it back. When I started getting back into it, I wanted more playing time and they gave me the opportunity over here."

Many times after the surgery, pitchers actually increase velocity, which is the case for Rainford as well, who topped out at 89 miles per hour on Saturday against Sturgis.

"I'm still not 100 percent. They say a full recovery takes about a year and a half," said Rainford. "But I think my arm is even stronger than before. Hopefully now I can go on to college and then on to the pros."

So far this season, Rainford is 2-0 on the mound, allowing only two hits, no runs, while striking out 17 in 10 innings pitched. He is also hitting the ball well for the Stars with a .385 average, 12 RBI and three home runs. Rainford will be a senior next fall at Rapid City Stevens High School and still has two years of eligibility in Legion baseball.

"It seems like the injury made him appreciate the game even more," said Post 320 head coach Jim Brandt. "He gives 105 percent every time he's out there. He really comes to play ball and he loves the game. He's got a lot of things going for him. If a pitcher wants to see how to pitch, you need to watch him."