Diamond adjusting for KCS 8th-grader
Carpenter Ford is spending his summer playing in a high school baseball league, and that certainly is normal for any player this time of year.
He’s one of many players on the diamond right now as a pair of leagues in East Tennessee are giving athletes a chance to play after the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 spring semester and sports season, and he’s relishing his most recent chance to get on the field just like any player.
What makes Carpenter unique is he’s a rising eighth grader playing for Knoxville Christian School, as most players in the league are either recent high school graduates or currently enrolled in high school.
And if that’s not tough enough, Carpenter has been the Knights’ primary starting catcher since the league started last month. He’s also still learning the position.
But don’t look for Carpenter to be intimidated by the duties of handling some top high school pitchers.
You see, he plays high school hockey for the Farragut Admirals club.
“I do really play catcher. I started playing last year,” said Carpenter, who has spent the majority of his career at third base or in the outfield. “Sometimes it’s hard, but now it’s getting easier to handle our top pitchers.
“I used to be nervous about catching (recent KCS graduate and staff ace) Devon (Cogossi), but now it’s just another inning of catching.”
Carpenter noted that as tough as catching can be, it’s not necessarily the most difficult part of his athletic life.
“I play hockey for Farragut against the same-aged kids, and hockey is probably a little tougher because it’s a more physical sport,” he said. “I also like to rock climb.”
KCS head coach John Barry knows Carpenter is going to have some tough days as he continues to hone his skills behind the dish. But the coach has had the rewarding experience of watching his young player improve each time the Knights hit the field.
“He’s not really a catcher,” Barry said. “We’re making him one. He started catching last year and he kind of got thrown into it.
“He’s getting better and that’s great to see,” he added.
Carpenter sees the improvement as well. “It’s getting easier for me to handle some of our guys who throw fast,” he said. “I’ve made very good progression since the beginning.”
Barry is approaching summer baseball as an opportunity to have his players learn on the field, and he’s patiently watching Carpenter learn.
His father, Steve Ford, is an assistant on Barry’s staff — and also provides support for his son behind the dugout.
“He’s the type of kid that accepts every challenge,” Steve Ford said. “He’s always been a third baseman or an outfielder, and this has taken some getting used to.
“But he’s always confident about accepting a challenge, but he’s never arrogant about it.”
Steve is happy to see his son flourish on the KCS baseball team.
The younger Ford is home-schooled and might not have the chance to play if not for Barry and the Knights.
“He’s home-schooled and John has been nice enough to let him come over here (to KCS) and play. There are just not a lot of opportunities (for home-schooled athletes) to play,” said Steve Ford, who also played baseball and hockey in high school.
