Tincup Is A Hit, And We Don’t Mean The Movie East Valley Outfielder Has Talent In His Past

Bill Tincup tells of this experience with a clerk in a video store.

“I said my name and she said, ‘We’re all out.’ It was kind of funny,” Tincup said.

The East Valley High School athlete isn’t the fictional character in a golfing movie, but a real-life outfielder of Cherokee Indian and major league baseball descent.

“My great-uncle, Ben Tincup, played for the Washington Senators before and after World War I,” said the Knight centerfielder.

His name is in the Total Baseball Book, said Tincup. The family has articles about him revealing his friendship with Babe Ruth. And he has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Small wonder that EV’s Tincup is a three-year prep starter who currently is the team’s leading hitter.

Tincup had been called up to the Knight varsity as a sophomore with the team in the middle of a Frontier League pennant race.

“We needed another bat in the lineup,” Knight coach Kurt Krauth said of his sophomore year. “(Junior varsity coach) John Phelan said he was hitting the ball well.”

Tincup played third base and designated hitter, and EV shared the Frontier League championship. He’s been a fixture ever since.

“Third base was an experience,” said Tincup, who had played mainly center field and pitched prior to high school. “I played some shortstop but it was a long time ago.”

As a junior he played left field before moving back to center field this year.

“It’s selected almost by seniority,” said Krauth.

Two years ago heavy-hitting Keith Osso held down the spot. The next year it went to Kyle LeGrant. This year is Tincup’s turn.

“I’ve always loved it,” he said. “I get to cover more ground and am in control of more opportunities.”

Bill Tincup has been playing baseball since he was six years old, and, from the beginning, showed an aptitude for the game.

He was one of the batting leaders on his East Farms teams and it didn’t take long for his skills to be recognized in high school.

“He’s just got quick hands,” said Krauth.

If ever he’s developed a bad habit, Tincup said, coaches have corrected it quickly.

Twice Tincup has been a second-team All-Frontier player for league championship teams.

Last summer, playing for the American Legion AAA Cannons, he started in center field every game until injuring an ankle while sliding into third base.

“I was having a great game,” he said. “I hit two triples in one inning.”

The ankle injury has slowed him a bit this year, but it hasn’t kept him from performing well for the Knights. This year he’s batting .408 with eight doubles, two triples, a home run and 21 runs batted in.

“I could have more if I concentrated on pulling the ball,” said Tincup. “My favorite thing is to drive it into right center.”

Two weeks ago, in a game against Cheney, he had a remarkable 10 of his team’s 21 putouts, defensively.

“That was awesome,” said Tincup.

Spokane became the Tincup family home by chance. Wanting to get away from California, his father, Doug, picked out this spot on a map.

It’s been a wonderful place to hunt and fish - and watch his son play baseball.

“My dad has not missed one of my games,” said Tincup.

He’s hoping there’ll be more games to play, perhaps at North Idaho College, which is not far from the family’s Newman Lake home.

“I love baseball,” said Tincup.

It’s an inherited trait.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo