Line drive to the throat fails to stop Minnesota grandma

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: March 13, 2008 - 10:00 PM

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - Orioles leadoff man Brian Roberts was visibly distracted Thursday after sending a screaming line drive into the stands and hitting a grandmother from Minnesota.

Cindy Kranz, a Twins fan from Maplewood, had settled into a seat near the third-base dugout, roughly 100 feet from Roberts and just to the side of the protective screen that runs behind home plate.

She was taking in the spring training game with her husband, son-in-law and 5-year-old grandson, Nolan, on a postcard-perfect afternoon.

Suddenly, a hush came over the small crowd at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, as the line drive hit Kranz in the throat.

She had trouble breathing at first, but after going to the first-aid stand she returned to her seat with ice on her throat -- all before the first inning ended.

Talk about a gamer.

The crowd gave a resounding cheer. Roberts sent her an autographed bat.

"Most of the time, when fans get hit like that, they don't make it back," he said. "So when I heard the applause, I was excited."

Kranz, 59, had visible swelling but kept her seat through the end of the Twins' 3-1 loss. Her family has tickets for Sunday's Twins game in Fort Myers, and she'll be there, as well.

"I was scared to death it was going to hit Nolan," she said of her grandson, clad in a Twins shirt.

"I'm glad it hit me and didn't hit him in the noggin."

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