Reid and his role

Editor’s note: Jay County High School spring student athletes are dealing with a new reality of not having school in session as well as having their sports season canceled. This “Senior Spotlight” series will recognize those spring senior athletes who had their final year as a Patriot cut short.

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Not graced with an abundance of athletic ability, Reid Claycomb found his role on the Patriot baseball team.

His high energy kept the atmosphere in the dugout positive, regardless of what was happening on the field. He’d relieve pitchers or catchers once they got on base as a courtesy runner.

And as part of back-to-back sectional championship teams, the Jay County High School senior was looking forward to evolving his duties as one of the elder statesmen this year.

“I wanted to take a leadership role, kind of set an example,” Claycomb said. “I knew we were going to be young as this last season ended. I thought I could show some of the younger athletes that we can do this even though we are young. We’re inexperienced in some spots. I will fill a role and we will go out and have a successful season.”

But on Thursday, the 17-year-old Portland resident had his plans come to an abrupt halt as the IHSAA announced it was canceling the spring sports season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is one of the saddest experiences in my life,” he said. “I’ve played baseball for 12 years dreaming about my senior season. I went to all the youth camps at the high school waiting to play for coach (Lea) Selvey once I got to high school.

“I was really looking forward to this season after (last year). I knew we would be doubted since we lost quite a few talented seniors but we had goals going into it. I was ready to make some of the best memories of my life.

“I am blessed to have played three years of baseball at Jay County. It’s just truly sad.”

The only son of Angel and Chad Claycomb, Reid appeared in 11 games for Jay County’s baseball team as a junior. The Patriots that season won consecutive sectional titles for the first time since winning three in a row from 1991 to ’93.

He had five plate appearances with just two official at bats. He did not record a hit, but walked twice. As a courtesy runner though, he scored 11 times, including three Allen County Athletic Conference games in which he recorded two runs. Seven Patriots scored more than he did, but they were all starters and played in each of Jay County’s 26 games.

It was the season opener — Wyatt Geesaman threw a perfect game in a 7-0 win against Elwood — when Claycomb was first used in his role, and he embraced it from that point forward.

“(The coaches) called on me, I did my job and did my job to the best of my ability,” he said. “From then on, I made sure to be ready. Whenever a pitcher or catcher was on base, just be ready for that.

“Kept the dugout morale high; keep high intense energy in the dugout.”

That energy from his junior season carried over into his senior year and gave him the opportunity to be one of a half dozen selected to be the leaders of Patriots Pack, the JCHS student section.

Claycomb could always be found at the front along the railing at Harold E. Schutz Stadium for football games and on the floor leading classmates during basketball games. During any big moment in either game, he was one of the most boisterous students of them all.

“I always tried to make it an enjoyable time for students at sporting events,” he said. “That is a fond memory of mine, knowing we had a good size student section for every single game.”

Sporting an outgoing personality, Claycomb participated in more than just sports during his time at Jay County. He was involved in 4-H for the first three years, and has been part of student council for the last two years.

Claycomb’s voice was also heard throughout school each morning as he recited the Pledge of Allegiance, adding his own twist at the end.

“It was quite a laugh,” he said. “I would say the pledge I would try to find a witty word to throw at the end of the day.”

Some examples: “Have a wonderful Wednesday. A thrill-full Thursday.”

First it started as a running joke. Then it became much bigger.

“You wouldn’t believe, I would get pressured by my classmates if I made a mistake in how I said it,” he said.

It got to the point that Claycomb received suggestions on what to say the following day. He said upon returning to class, his teacher Kelly Smeltzer helped him devise a plan.

“I’d come to class, he’d give me multiple ideas for the word of the day,” he said.

Claycomb wasn’t able to pinpoint a favorite teacher, but he identified health and wellness courses as is favorite subjects. His fondness for the field is leading him to attend IUPUI with hopes of entering the nursing program.

He visited the school over the winter and immediately fell in love.

“It’s a very good program,” he said. “Advisors are great. The school itself is great. The energy it had when I first arrived is something that I really like.”

While Claycomb is adjusting to the final month of the school year away from the building, he said he’ll miss getting to spend time with his friends on the baseball and swim teams.

And if there’s one piece of advice he has for incoming freshmen, it’s to not take any part of high school for granted.

“Enjoy it while you have it because it goes by extremely fast,” he said. “Feels like yesterday I was walking through school with my sister (Riley) and I was going to be at JCHS for eternity.

“Now I’ve only got a few more weeks left.”