Ramon rebounds

By Joe Mason
For the Times

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Ramon Reyes is a pretty good college athlete.
Reyes, a 2006 graduate of Frankford High School, was the most valuable player in the Public League for his play at catcher during baseball season.
Reyes was a capable hitter, batting third in the Pioneers’ potent lineup.
But his bread was buttered behind the dish. Reyes had a cannon for an arm. He rarely got a chance to use it because few teams would run on him, but when given the opportunity, Reyes would uncork a laser to second base.
He also was a strong leader for Frankford’s experienced pitching squad, which is why he drew looks from some Division 1 schools and even got a few calls from major league scouts asking about his future plans.
In the end, Reyes decided to attend Salem County College in South Jersey to continue his baseball career.
And begin his basketball career.
"I was just in the gym shooting and a basketball coach from the school saw me," he said. "They just had a bunch of guys fail out, so they needed some players. I always loved basketball, so I went out and they gave me a (partial) scholarship. It was a lot of fun, something I’m glad I did."
Reyes was happy to pinch-hit for Salem’s basketball team, though he’d much rather be a starter on the baseball squad.
This year, Reyes saw limited action at catcher, due mostly to miseries at the plate. He hit just .170 and drove in four runs.
The season was a disappointment, but Reyes continued to play well behind the plate. His emphasis now is to correct his problems with the stick.
And he’s getting plenty of practice.
Reyes is the starting catcher on the Olney American Legion team, which is currently 12-4, and he’s also playing for the Phillies RBI squad, an 18-and-under all-star team in Philadelphia.
On top of that, he spent the first part of the summer playing in the Pen-Del League, competing against the best adult baseball players in the area.
Reyes is starting to think that the holes in his swing are getting smaller.
"I feel a lot better now," he said. "My swing was so messed up during the year, I can’t even explain it. I got to working on it right away and it’s coming back. I can see it coming around, and that feels really good."
His Olney Redbirds team is currently perched in second place, one game behind Ivy Ridge.
Reyes particularly enjoys the feeling of winning with the Olney Legion team. Most of the guys on the squad are the guys he played high school ball with.
"It’s kind of like a reunion," Reyes said. "We’re a family . . . we were a family at Frankford, and now we’re still a family. I think that’s what made high school baseball so much fun — you play with your best friends.
"College ball is a lot different," the Frankford resident added. "I like it, but it’s not the same. You’re friends with everyone, but you’re not best friends with the guys. I’ll be back next year and I’m sure it will be different. But right now, (Olney) is the best team I could play for."
Reyes’ improvement this summer isn’t a total surprise. When he arrived at Frankford as a freshman, he had plenty of years of baseball experience, but he never played catcher. He picked up the mitt because Frankford coach Bob Peffle told him the team needed a catcher in the future.
His willingness to learn is just one of the things Peffle admires about his former player.
"Of all the things I can say about Ramon, I think the fact that he’s a great young man, a great person and a great athlete would be the first thing," Peffle said. "He’s a good ballplayer, but he has the motor and the drive to excel. Most of what he’s achieved has come through hard work. He’s got talent, but he also has that work ethic that makes him a great competitor and a great player to coach."
Reyes still has plenty of work to do before he goes back to school in September.
He’s hoping that he can guide the Redbirds to an American Legion championship. He also wants to continue to improve his game, both at the plate and behind it.
But he’s also anxious to get back to school. This year, he’ll declare a major and finish up at the two-year college.
"I’m looking forward to getting back. I think I want to major in teaching, possibly physical education and health," Reyes said. "And I want to get back there and play ball again. Last year was tough, but I think I’ll be more prepared this year." ••
Joe Mason can be reached at joemason70@hotmail.com