By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com
Ryan Fender is spending the summer of 2023 in bounce-back mode.
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, Fender is preparing for his fifth and final year at Murray (Ky.) State University. His 2023 season was cut short by a sprained Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) experienced in Week 2.
“I definitely do prefer starting,” says Fender. “At the beginning of the year I got myself into the weekend rotation and was going to be our Sunday starter.”
Fender is doing his rehabilitation in Crown Point, Ind., where he graduated from high school in 2019. He says he expects to be throwing again in mid-July.
“It’s the end of a long process,” says Fender, 22. “I should be good to go next spring.”
Fender made two mound appearances (both starts) and was 0-1 with nine strikeouts and four walks in 8 2/3 innings in 2023.
In four seasons at Murray State (2020-23), the righty has pitched in 28 games (17 in relief) and recorded 49 strikeouts and 37 walks in 51 1/3 innings.
Fender earned a Construction Management and Architecture degree in the spring and will pursue an online Master of Business Administration while playing for the MSU Racers in 2023-24.
Dan Skirka is head coach at Missouri Valley Conference member Murray State and Steve Adkins is pitching coach.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” says Fender of Skirka. “He truly is a players’ coach. He cares about us as humans more than anything.
“I had trouble my first couple years with command and not pitching very well, results-based issues. He never gave up on me and kept giving me chances. Eventually we got it all turned around.”
While he was still Crown Point High School, Fender was recruited by Kevin Moulder and decided to hold to his commitment when Moulder left.
Adkins has helped Fender with the mental side of pitching.
“You get to this level (NCAA D-I) everybody’s got good stuff,” says Fender. “That’s not a separator. The separator is how well you can execute no matter the situation and where you’re at mentally.”
Adkins is fond of an expression that’s a twist on the commercial with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Mark McGwire and Heather Locklear and “Chicks Dig the Long Ball” — “Chicks Dig Mound Presence.”
Using a three-quarter overhand arm slot, Fender throws a four-seam fastball, change-up, curveball and slider.
The four-seamer has natural run on it. He got it up to 93 mph in fall 2022 scrimmages. The pitch usually sits at 89-90.
Fender employs a modified “circle” change.
“I flip the ball around a little bit,” says Fender of his grip.
Early in his pitching life, Fender took lessons from Joe Plesac and learned his curve.
“My middle finger puts pressure on the ball and I put my pointer finger where it’s comfortable,” says Fender.
Some call it a “knuckle” curve, some a “spike” curve. Fender says the first description is deceiving since the action is not like a fluttering knuckleball.
He recently added the slider to his pitch mix.
“The movement profile is more like a cutter,” says Fender. “It stays on a vertical plane but horizontally it moves 7 inches maybe.”
Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., Fender moved to Crown Point with his family around age 3.
From 6-12, he played at Crown Point Little League then Crown Point Babe Ruth.
Travel teams included the Dave Griffin-coached Outsiders Baseball Club, Troy Drosche-coached 17U Indiana Bulls and Shane Brogan-coached 18U Midwest Irish. He also played in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., in 2021.
Fender’s coach at Crown Point High was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Steve Strayer.
“I loved playing for Coach Strayer,” says Fender. “He always pushed us to the edge of our abilities. He got the best out of his players.
Another big thing about the culture Coach Strayer has at Crown Point. It’s like you’re truly part of a family when you’re playing. I still talk to a bunch of kids I played with.”
In 2019, Fender was an IHSBCA and Prep Baseball Report Indiana all-stater as well as an IHSBCA North/South All-Star Series participant. He was MVP of the Duneland Athletic Conference and on the first teams for the all-area squads named by the Northwest Indiana Times and Post-Tribune.
For his prep career, he was 14-4 with a 1.02 ERA and 203 strikeouts. He posted an 0.61 ERA with 126 K’s as a senior. He was IHSBCA Academic All-State in 2019 and a four-time Scholar-Athlete at Crown Point.
The Bulldogs were DAC champions in 2017 and 2019. CP was sectional champions in 2019.
Mike and Paula Fender have two children — Emily and Ryan.
Mike Fender is an Certified Orthotic Fitter and Paula Fender Vice President of Credit Risk Governance at Centier Bank. Emily (Fender) Sizemore lives in Crown Point.
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