Heading into his junior season in 2008, Jason Leaver had something to prove.

He wanted to prove he was better than his 5.61 ERA in 2007. But he never got the chance.

His 2008 season was cut short due to a partial tear in the posterior band in his elbow, an injury he called “really, really painful.”

“It was tough,” Leaver said of not being able to play. “I never had to have surgery, but I just did a lot of physical therapy with our trainer, Mike Dillon. He did wonders for me. He took care of me every day and put me on a good workout plan and a good throwing plan, and I was able to strengthen it back out and protect it.”

After missing the entire SEC season and nearly the entire postseason, Leaver returned to pitch a third of an inning against Fresno State in the College World Series, an experience he will never forget.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he said. “After we went to the College World Series in 2006 [pitcher] Trevor [Holder] was the only member of our freshman class that year to throw out in Omaha. To be able to come back in ’08 and be able to throw out there on the biggest stage in college baseball, it was a great feeling.”

This season, Leaver has anchored the mid-week rotation for the No. 5 Diamond Dogs, posting a 3-0 record and a 5.40 ERA and will start in the first game of Georgia’s doubleheader with Winthrop today, beginning at 3 p.m.

Georgia has won all but one mid-week game this season, and Leaver didn’t pitch as Georgia head coach David Perno was saving him for a game that eventually was rained out.

“I was kicking myself after that,” Perno said. “To have his experience in mid-week games is very much a luxury, and he’s doing a great job for us right now.”

Leaver’s dedication to the team and the sport has not been lost on his teammates, who truly appreciate the commodity Leaver provides.

“He competes his butt off during games, and it’s nice to see that, and it brings a lot of energy to the dugout when a guy is fighting on every pitch,” Holder said. “He had a great start against Clemson and it’s great for him. I’m really happy for him to be able to return from injury last year and for him to have success really helps us.”

Leaver’s stuff is not overpowering, but he gets the job done and provides an excellent model to his younger teammates.

“It’s great just on the pure fact that it shows if you work hard enough, you can get back, and he’s helping our team win,” senior catcher Bryce Massanari said.

Added Holder: “If anything, it’s just to be persistent. You are going to go through tough times here. Everybody is going to go through some injury that will set him back or have a slump or something, and I think the biggest thing you can learn from him is to push through and see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I think it’s great for these young guys to see him bounce back.”

Leaver will be on a pitch count tonight so he can be used out of the bullpen on the weekends if needed. And that’s fine with Leaver.

“I worked as hard as I could to get back and support this team the best I could. I just want to help this team win,” he said. “No matter what I need to do.”