| I.S.C. From The Ballpark |
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TYRON McKINNEY - - - - A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
By: Gordon L. Wise - - - I.S.C. Information Officer
Nov. 29, 2002
Somehow those muscles which allow a fastball pitcher to hurl a ball at speeds at or exceeding 90 mph must also morph into the muscles needed to control a much heavier bowling ball down the hardwood with the pinpoint accuracy needed to score with the best of them in the demanding art of bowling.
How else would you explain the artistry of young (22) Tyron McKinney, a resident of the sports-crazy town of Ashland, Ohio? His seemingly unlimited athletic skills rise to a peak in BOTH of these sports.
As a fastball pitcher, Tyron McKinney has known such success as pitching his Ashland Coors Lite team to the ASA "B" 2001 national championship in a tournament which saw him chosen as Most Valuable Pitcher. That season also saw him matched in a dual with the legendary Peter Meredith that saw both hurlers carry a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Meredith prevailed in a 1 0 battle. His pitching career began with Ashland at the tender age of 15.
During the 2002 fastball season, McKinney spent most of his diamond time playing first base for the Midland (MI) Explorers, as that major team sought to take full advantage of his high-quality lefthanded hitting abilities. His pitching skills were used from time to time in his team's national tournament caliber schedule. And his hitting helped Midland to a 4th place finish in the ASA Major national tournament where Tyron had the highlight experience of hitting a home run off Mike Piechnik.
An incredible career in a demanding sport? Of course - - - but it probably pales beside his youthful achievements in another sport - - - BOWLING.
Taking up the sport at the tender age of THREE, McKinney has known the absolute mountaintop experience of any bowler - - - the PERFECT GAME!!
But that's only the tip of the iceberg - - - He has known that "perfect 300" experience an incredible TWENTY-TWO TIMES!!! And the first time he hit this pinnacle of bowling excellence, he was just 12 years old! He remembers the date well - - - Feb. 19, 1993.
In one of those 22 gems of the hardwood, he bowled the entire game LEFTHANDED.!!! Small wonder that he has carried league averages as high as 225 in his "other" sport.
Now in his Junior year at Ashland University, Tyron McKinney is majoring in Education and plans a career as a History teacher.
With a bright smile, a charming and outgoing personality, and that fantastic control of the physiology needed for such widely diverse sports as fastball and bowling, the future looks bright indeed for this talented young athlete.
"Set 'em up in the next alley" - - - or on the next ball field!
Gordon L. Wise - - - I.S.C. Information Officer
Mailto:sgwise@woh.rr.com
http://www.iscfastpitch.com