Surgery can't stop Crummy

Surgery can't stop Crummy
Golden Tornado senior catcher earns scholarship from Miami (Ohio)

BUTLER TWP — Less than two years removed from Tommy John surgery, John Crummy is behind the plate with his baseball career in front of him.
The Butler senior catcher recently accepted a scholarship to play at Miami (Ohio) University of the Mid-American Conference next season.
"They have a great business school there and I want to major in business," said Crummy, who is carrying a 3.9 grade point average. "The fact their coach is a former catcher kind of made the decision a no-brainer for me."
Miami coach Dan Simonds was the catcher and team captain of the Davidson College baseball team before being selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth round of the 1987 amateur draft.
He didn't reach the major leagues as a player, but he was a bullpen catcher for the Chicago Cubs from 1992-94 and managed the San Diego Padres' Class A Fort Wayne club in 1999.
Simonds is in his fifth year at Miami.
"I look for athleticism and solid fundamentals in a catcher, and John has all those things," Simonds said. "He's also a left-handed hitter with some power.
"He'll get an opportunity to play here right away because we don't have another left-handed hitting catcher."
Junior Adam Weisenberger is the Red Hawks' starting catcher and is hitting .319 with three homers and 32 RBI this spring. Freshman Nate Bowles is hitting .267 in 15 at-bats.
"I know I'll get a chance to play if I prove I'm ready," Crummy said.
William & Mary, West Virginia and George Mason were other schools he considered.
After hitting .391 as the Golden Tornado first baseman in 2009, Crummy is hitting .600 as the team's catcher so far this season. He underwent Tommy John surgery May 19, 2008, and didn't return to catching until the summer of 2009.
Butler coach Dave Florie said Crummy is capable of playing any infield position.
"He has good, soft hands and he can field the baseball," Florie said. "John is a terrific baseball player, one of the best I've ever coached."
Crummy leads the Tornado in "H's," a statistic Florie keeps for hard-hit balls, as well as hits.
"He hits the ball hard without trying to hit home runs," Florie said. "When John hits a homer, it's a line-drive homer."
Miami has had 36 players selected in the amateur draft since 1990. Crummy hopes to someday add to that list.
"I feel like I can develop my skills there and maybe get the opportunity to play pro ball," Crummy said. "Playing for a former catcher can only help me, too."
Simonds said Crummy has what it takes to reach the next level.
"He's so solid in every phase of his game," the Miami coach said. "We love his energy level and leadership qualities. A catcher sets the tempo for the rest of the team, so we look for those qualities.
"That kid's got the skill set and the work ethic. That's the combination you need. We feel like we're getting an impact player," Simonds added.
Miami is 20-20 so far this season, 7-8 in the MAC. The Red Hawks have posted winning records in three of the past four years.