Phone call changes Hinkell’s life forever

The 2006 Drury High School graduate was at his freshman orientation at Worcester State College when he received a call from his girlfriend.

On the other end of the phone, she shared news that would alter his life forever.

"She told me she was pregnant," Johno said. "I had to leave right away."

Johno was 18 years old, and had recently completed an all-around excellent career as a Blue Devil. Aside from being a perennial All-Berkshire selection as Drury baseball’s catcher, he also maintained a 3.6 grade point average.

In an instant, his view on college changed. He wasn’t going to be able to indulge in the care-free lifestyle that college brings. There weren’t going to be those nights of endless partying, let alone a few free moments to just kick back and relax.

Johno had to skip the last part of his childhood.

He had to become a man overnight.

In high school, Johno was just one of the guys. At 5-feet-10, he managed to play power forward for the Blue Devils basketball squad and was a popular student.

He, admittedly, has had moments of apathy. Jonho had the gift of being able to coast. He wasn’t forced to spend every waking minute studying because he could get by on the bare essentials. But to manage a 3.6 GPA without trying as hard as he can, well that’s both  maddening and impressive.

His father, John, had trusted his son to make the right decisions in his life.

"He’s a rare breed," Johno’s father said. "I always knew he would succeed -- he just needed a little direction. When I first heard the news [about the pregnancy] I was a little afraid, but he has proven himself to be a man."

The guidance provided by John resonated with Johno, who made his son, Connor, his priority.

Connor is a spry two-year old, who doesn’t go more than a few moments without cracking a heart-warming smile. Shy at first, he opens up very quickly -- and isn’t afraid to tell you what’s on his mind.

"I like to hit home runs for mom and dad," Connor interrupts.

"Tell him who your favorite team is," Johno prods.

"I don’t know," Connor insists.

"What do we say? Go Red Sox. Boo Yankees," Johno says, with his son joyfully squirming around in his father’s arms.

With that, Connor puts his arms out, begging for another hug and kiss.

It’s the kind of relationship that’s based on friendship more than anything else. Johno has put Connor before everything in his life, and will continue to do so until Connor is all grown-up.

"Some people ask me if I would go back and do it all over again," Johno said. "No, I wouldn’t. When I found out I was having a kid, I thought that would be the last thing to ever happen to me. But it was a blessing in disguise. It was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wouldn’t change it for anything."

Johno’s fearless approach to fatherhood makes the rest of his life very impressive. How does he find the time to be a full-time student, an all-conference baseball selection and a good dad, without sacrificing quality?

It wasn’t easy at first, but he found a major source of inspiration. Drury baseball coach Al Marceau went through a situation that nearly mirrors Johno’s. After his freshman year of college, Al found out his girlfriend -- who is now his wife -- was pregnant with his first daughter.

The first bit of advice Al gave Johno was a lesson in perception.

"Everyone has an opinion," Al said. "Like ‘He should be home with his kid,’ but he is doing the right thing by going and getting an education and thinking about the future."

It was advice given to Al from his father.

"Why would you spend the rest of your life working a minimum-wage job and not be able to give [Connor] everything he deserves?" Al said. "You can’t let what others think hold you back."

What makes Johno’s story so impressive is that aside from the hurdle life threw in his path, he still manages to succeed in school and on the baseball field.

He is one year away from obtaining a bachelor’s degree in community health, and while he isn’t certain exactly where he wants to direct his career, he does know he wants to be in the medical field in some way, helping others.

This past season saw Johno lead the Lancers to a 31-11-1 overall record, including a 10-4 mark in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

His numbers alone speak volumes. He batted .294 with seven home runs and 36 runs batted in, and also had a .587 slugging percentage. Maybe more impressive was his .987 fielding percentage and three errors in 214 attempts.

But if you ask Johno what he thinks his greatest accomplishment is, he returns the conversation to his son.

"At first I thought it was going to be difficult to be on a team and have my kid around all the time," he said. "But it wasn’t hard at all. I brought Connor to a practice, and the team fell in love with him. He has 30 more uncles now."

His father echoed that sentiment.

"When some of the players are in the on-deck circle, they will have Connor come up and give a high-five for good luck," John said.

Johno’s sister Kendra is a two-sport athlete at Drury. Currently, she is playing on the softball team, and has asked her big brother for some hitting advice.

Instead of brushing her off for something that may be more important, Johno took the time to help his sister with her swing -- and brought Connor along too.

"He’s way more than just a teen father," John said. "He really loves his son, and everything he does is for [Connor]."

Johno and his girlfriend, Emily Girard, came to an agreement a while back. They decided it was necessary for both of them to attend school. It initially made things a tad difficult, but it’s become routine now. When Johno is finished earning his degree, Emily is going to attend school.

When Johno is not playing baseball, he drives home every weekend to be with his son. During the season, Emily and Connor make the trek to Worcester to see Johno’s home games. It’s the kind of compromise that has made life a bit easier for both parents, while still always focusing on the most important thing -- Connor.

And when Johno feels he is losing sight of what’s truly important, he just thinks back to when it all began.

"I really had to mature a lot quicker than I thought," he said. "I was a bit shell-shocked, but it was a wake-up call. I’m at school to get an education and do what I need to. I need to be a dad and a man."

In the end, Johno has learned a lot about himself. He knows he can achieve what he puts his mind to.

Connor helped him realize that.

"He really made me a better person," Johno added. "You don’t really realize it until you have a kid of your own. He is everything to me, and that will never change."