Like brother, like brother.
Muldrow Bulldogs pitcher Jonah Claborn signed a letter of intent with Lincoln University, located in Jefferson City, Mo., in a signing ceremony April 29 at Roger Sharp Activity Center. Claborn now will be reunited with his older brother Jacob.
“My brother, Jacob, is there, so that made it (the decision to sign) easier,” Claborn said about his decision to sign with the Blue Tigers. “Jacob pitches there. They’re just really looking for arms (pitchers) right now. They offered me a pretty good amount of (scholarship) money to go there. The campus is really nice. (Lincoln University baseball) Coach (Grant) Reynolds knows what he’s doing, so that made it good choices (to go there as well). I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s always special (to see high school players sign to play college athletics), especially since you see a guy like Jonah,” first-year Muldrow baseball coach John Rozell said. “You don’t get to the next level just by chance. He’s put the work in. He’s meant a lot to this program. When I first got here, when you talk to different people, the first thing they mentioned was Jonah and how special he is. He’s not just a good player, but he’s a great person. He’s an awesome kid.”
Claborn, who hit the 90-strikeout mark in Monday’s Senior Day home loss to Gore and has 188 Ks for his high school career, played football and baseball for the ’Dogs, but it’s his love for being on the diamond which fuels his passion the most — and basically growing up in a family so involved in the sport.
“Baseball is my first love, most definitely. I’ve played baseball since I was 3 years old,” the Muldrow senior said. “My grandpa, Bill Claborn, is a Hall of Fame baseball coach — he coached at Wright City. My dad (Casey) played in high school — I think he holds the record with most hit by pitches when he played at Wright City. So that (baseball) was what I fell in love with.”
Claborn is so thankful that he has been able to play the sport he loves for as long as he has been.
“I’m just grateful,” he said. “I thank God for allowing me to play this great game and stay healthy for as long as I have. I’m thankful for Coach Reynolds to give me this opportunity, my family for supporting me and all the coaches and what they poured into me (baseball knowledgewise).”
Rozell wishes he had Claborn for more than just this senior season.
“I keep telling him he’s got to have a COVID year in him,” said Rozell, referring to the collegiate rule that has allowed recent college athletes to have an extra year of eligibility that was lost due to the 2020 COVID pandemic. “The sky is the limit for him. There’s no telling what he will accomplish if he puts his mind to it.”
Claborn isn’t too worried about being five hours away, playing for the university that is located in the capital city of “The Show-Me State.”
“I’m not worried about the distance,” Claborn said. “I kind of wanted to get away from home. I feel like everyone needs to get away from home for at least a little bit. I think it will be hard on my family, but I’ll have my brother there. I think we’ll be OK.”
“He loves (baseball),” Rozell said. “That’s the main thing. You have to love it. I played college baseball, and it’s your job. It becomes your full-time job. He loves it, and he’ll do very well.”
