Kenston Graduate Clayton Kynkor is the "Ace" and Lead of the Baldwin-Wallace College Pitching Staff
By: Matthew Florjancic
BEREA, OHIO -- Finding the pitcher who is willing to take the ball in crucial situations is a tough task for any baseball coach or manager. However, during the past two seasons, Baldwin-Wallace College 39-year veteran Head Coach Bob Fisher has been able to call upon former Kenston High standout and Yellow Jacket senior righthander Clayton Kynkor to take the ball.
The past two years, Kynkor has served as the ace of the staff, including a year ago when he tied the school single-season record for starts in a season with 11.
Fisher knows that having a pitcher to shoulder the load every time he steps on the mound is a huge plus for the program.
“Having a senior pitcher like Clayton who is co-captain is very valuable,” said Fisher, who is B-W’s all-time winner in coaching victories with 641. “Pitching experience is key to the kids who gravitate through college baseball.
“He’s [Kynkor] not the kind of kid that’s going to walk a lot of people,” continued Fisher of Kynkor who has walked just nine batters in 25 innings pitcher so far in 2006. “He certainly has increased his command as he’s gotten older and matured.”
Fisher also feels Kynkor has earned the respect of his staff and teammates.
“The kids have really taken to him,” said Fisher. “His teammates elected him their captain and their leader. Those young guys are the fellows that Clayton’s really been helpful to the past two and three years. He is a young man who has always put the team first.”
Kynkor enjoys having other people look to him in critical moments on the field.
“It just puts a little more pressure on you to set an example for the rest of the guys,” said, said Kynkor, who owns a 3-1 record after earning a win last Sunday (March 25) in a 6-4 win at Walsh University. “I like having the responsibility. It makes me proud to be considered the staff ace, a team captain and team-leader.
“You’re expected to go out there and have a great game every time,” added Kynkor. “Sometimes, that’s not possible, but when I’m having a bad day, I try to deal with what I’ve got and make it the best experience out there for everybody.”
One reason for Kynkor’s success on the mound is his temperament. Another is the type of pitch he utilizes to finish off opposing hitters.
“He has a good baseball mind as far as what he wants to do out there and how he wants to approach each hitter and each inning,” said Fisher. “His poise, emotional control and fortitude are just a few of the things a pitcher has to do because there are going to be days and times when things don’t go well.
“If you lose your emotional control at any time, you’re really kind of giving in and playing into the hands of the other team,” continued Fisher. “Clayton just doesn’t let that happen.
“In terms of his out pitch, Clayton’s split-finger fastball works well and drops well,” said Fisher. “He uses it in the right situations.”
Kynkor knows the split-finger is his pitch, but has spent time improving on others during his time in Berea.
“My out pitch is my split-finger. It’s kind of like a knuckleball,” Kynkor said. “It doesn’t have any spin on it and when it comes in, it’s deceiving. It looks like it’s coming straight but once it gets to the batter, it kind of looks like it drops off a table, especially when it’s on. Some of the guys don’t like catching me when I throw it.
“Coming into college, I didn’t really throw a change-up, which seems kind of strange for a pitcher,” he added. “Coach Cook (B-W Pitching Coach Cliff Cook) worked hard with me to develop and add a change-up to my repertoire. That’s probably the biggest thing that’s changed since I got here, and it has made me a better pitcher.”
Kynkor is not only getting the job done this season. His 13-4 career record is one of the best in recent history. However, the mark is down on the list of importance for Kynkor and the team. They would like to bring a championship home to Heritage Field.
“[Winning an Ohio Athletic Conference title] It would mean a lot. I don’t think we’ve won one in quite a while now,” said Kynkor, referring to the fact that B-W has not won an OAC title since 1985. “Coach Fisher’s probably wanting one too. It would be great if we could do it and come together as a team.
“We’ve got a great team this year with a mix of both veterans and younger players,” said Kynkor. “If we can go out and play the way we are capable, winning an OAC title is certainly possible.”
Even though his time in the spring is limited because of the baseball schedule, Kynkor finds time to enjoy his second-favorite athletic activity, teeing it up on the links.
“I like to golf a lot,” said Kynkor with a wry smile and subsequent laugh. “I try to get out and play as often as I can when I’m not in the middle of baseball. I guess, as a pitcher, that’s kind of a stereotype. I like to golf during the summers because that is when a bulk of my free time has occurred”
Once his final season in the Brown and Gold is complete, Kynkor will focus on finishing his education. He has made good use of his time in the classroom.
“I’m actually not graduating until next December,” said Kynkor. “I’m a business administration and marketing major. My plan is to get an internship this summer and learn as much as I can. I just like the advertising aspects of marketing. It is interesting and dynamic.
“Coach Fisher has a marketing plan for us as players as far as advertising ourselves as student-athletes and in terms of representing the College,” added Kynkor. “He stresses that we the College when we are on the baseball field and travelling to other schools and places as its representatives. That prepares me as far as working with the team.”
With Kynkor on the mound for his finbal season and a solid team around him, hopefully everything will fall into place -- that’s first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference standings!
The Yellow Jacket baseball team is back in action on Saturday, March 31 when they host OAC rival Capital University in the opening doubleheader of the 2007 OAC season. The first pitch at Heritage Field is at 1:00 p.m.