Bynum a likeable figure

Daily News: Aug. 14, 2013

SEMI-PRO BASEBALL

Bynum a likeable figure

7 UP player has special season

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News Sports Editor

There is a lot to like about Billy Bynum.

This year, he played just as well as he could, and it was pretty good. That’s one reason and one of many.

Bynum, a West Bend 7 UP player, won the league’s Triple Crown, leading the Land O’ Lakes’ Western Division in batting average, home runs and RBIs.

“It must be darn near impossible because, talking to the commissioner, since 1990, there’s been only other person that’s done it,” 7 UP manager Craig Larsen said. That person was Menomonee Falls’ Bob Manders in 2004.

Bynum didn’t have the best overall season on his team. That distinction went to Mike Mueller. The difference is the award only takes in divisional play. That’s where Bynum had the numbers to win the Triple Crown.

Bynum, a 2002 Milwaukee Lutheran High School graduate, batted .493 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in division play. For the regular season, Bynum batted .426 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs. He only went hitless in three of 28 games. Mueller batted .460 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs, and batted .441 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in division play.

Mueller, a former professional baseball player and a college All-American, has never won the league’s Triple Crown.

“There have been some great baseball players that have come through (the league),” Larsen said.

Other notable players to have played in the division include Ryan Rohlinger, who has played in 46 Major League Baseball games and is in the Cleveland Indians’ farm system, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball coach Scott Doffek.

“With the players in this league, I think it’s got to be one of the tougher leagues to do it,” Bynum said. “I didn’t even have the best year on our team with Mike Mueller. It really was a special season.”

He took his game to another level when Mueller suffered a knee injury at the midway point last season. Having Mueller hurt may have been the best thing to happen to Bynum.

“When Mike went down and I said, ‘Where was I going to get the offense?’ Billy was the one who stepped up. He should’ve been the MVP last year.

“He carried us the second half of the year last year.”

Bynum was clutch, too. Last season, he had five walk-off hits, four of which were home runs. But three of those walk-off home runs came after Mueller’s injury.

“He’s a guy that is capable of handling any position, any spot in the lineup,” Larsen said. “He’s a natural leader by trade. He’s a vocal leader and he shows by example. No situation phases him. If you need a clutch hit, he’ll come up with a clutch hit.”

Bynum is a teacher at his alma mater and is on the football team’s coaching staff. In high school, Bynum played on the varsity baseball team for four years. He was twice all-conference, all-district his junior year and all-state his senior year. He helped lead the Red Knights to a WIAA state championship in 2002.

He also starred on the school’s football and basketball teams. In his senior year, he had a knee injury during the football season, which just about wiped out a chance to be a walk-on at Wisconsin.

Bynum wanted to be a teacher so he went to Concordia University in Mequon. For the Falcons, he played baseball and basketball. He graduated in four years, while playing two sports, with a 3.4 GPA and a degree in education with a minor in Spanish.

“That’s something I’m really proud of,” Bynum said.

“He’s probably, on top of being a baseball player, he’s an even better person,” Larsen added.

It was at Concordia where Bynum was introduced to the 7 UP. After college, Bynum played with a semi-pro team in Hustisford. While playing the game was fun, the drive to and from games wasn’t. He needed something closer. At Concordia, he was roommates with Adam Rohlinger. For a couple years, Bynum begged Rohlinger to put in a good word for him. Then a spot finally opened up.

“About four years ago, he asked me if I was in and I said yes,” Bynum said. “The guys I’ve played with at 7 UP are some really good ball players.”

At 29, there is still a lot of satisfaction playing at this level.

“I know a lot of guys in college that gave up right away and played softball. That’s not for me,” Bynum said.

Having Bynum on the 7 UP has been a blessing for Larsen, especially batting near Mueller.

“It’s been a great luxury to have,” Larsen said.