Some high school athletes sit idly by, simply working and playing their sport, hoping to be spotted by the school of their dreams, offering financial aide in exchange for playing a sport at that school.
Others are more proactive. Doing research, finding a school that appears to be a good fit and reaching out to the school or coach.
Count Lakeside senior Frankie Clayman among the latter group and it paid big dividends for the speedy outfielder as he is headed to Mount Vernon Nazarene University to continue his playing career next year.
Clayman found the school on the Internet and, as it turns out, it was a perfect fit for what he was looking for.
“I was on berecruited.com and I was looking for schools that weren’t too far from home,” he explained. “I found their program had won some conference titles so that interested me a lot. I sent an email out with my accomplishments and their coach sent me a packet.
“I visited and practiced with them and as soon as I got there, it just felt like home. It was beautiful and looked so nice. I loved everything about it. I loved their educational values and their spiritual values. Both are very important to me.”
While the school located roughly 50 miles northeast of Columbus, may not be well-known to many, it has a strong baseball reputation.
Tim Belcher, the Cleveland Indians pitching coach last season, graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene and went on to be the first pick in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins.
He’s one of 13 players to have played at the school to go on to be drafted.
“I know they’ve had around 20 people in the MLB and about 13 got drafted,” Clayman said. “The main one was Tim Belcher going No. 1. But, they’ve got quite a few guys in the pros. They’ve won the last two years and they have a couple of NCCA (National Christian College Association) titles.”
While Clayman obviously had a strong resume in baseball, he also was a solid football player.
But, for him, it was always going to be baseball.
“All my life, I’ve known baseball is probably my better option,” he said. “I liked it more all along and I had a better chance to have a longer career, too. Football is easier to get hurt so I always felt baseball was a better option for me.”
Lakeside didn’t have a meteoric rise this season, but drastically improved from last year’s three-win team, getting up to nine wins.
Clayman felt the team’s hard work paid off.
“Oh yeah, it was definitely an improvement, we worked hard in the offseason,” he said. “It wasn’t a great season, but definitely improved. It felt good to go out with a few wins and not getting blown out game in and game out.”
The son of Frank and Sandy blew teams away with his speed this season.
Clayman had an Ashtabula County-high 11 triples this season, blowing virtually every other player out of any chance of leading.
By using the whole field, Clayman said he was able to find more gaps, allowing him to record all the triples he did.
“I was seeing the ball really well and having a good time just driving it,” he said. “If I hit it to right and find that gap, it’s a long throw so with my speed, I always was able to get those triples.
“In the offseason, I lowered my hands a little bit in my stance and before I struggled with inside pitches, that allowed me to pull the ball. This year, I started to pull it with power, I hit a could homers even with the BBCOR bats. It was kind of funny because I couldn’t hit it out with the better bats last year.”
Clayman said he credits much of his success to his parents.
“They’ve helped me so much along the way, they’re my biggest fans and an inspiration through everything,” he said. “Ever since I could walk, I was playing baseball. I credit them both for pushing me as an athlete and in school. They’ve always had high standards for be as an athlete and in academics and I really appreciate it.
“I really can’t say thank you enough.”
Clayman, who plans to major in biology and physical therapy, has a chance to make an impact immediately as a freshman.
With his speed, he could get time as a leadoff hitter next season as Mount Vernon Nazarene is in need for one.
“Right now, they’re looking for a leadoff hitter and that’s exactly what I am,” he said. “I’m going to have to work for it. There’s no guarantees at the next so we’ll see. They said I have a good chance as long as I work hard.”
Between now and the fall, Clayman will be playing with the Conneaut Legion team as well as in a Class B wooden bat league at Cene Park in Struthers.
As he continues to improve his game, Clayman said he’ll focus on working on his arm strength.
“For the past two year’s, I’ve been working on my arm strength,” he said. “I talked to (Lakeside coach Andy) Kiphart and he thinks I’ve improved in that area tremendously. But I still don’t feel like I’m there yet. I don’t have it exactly where I want it to play next year.”
Click here to subscribe to The Star Beacon print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Star Beacon replica edition.
