DIAMOND DANDY VALENCIA BASEBALL TEAM ADOPTS FAN.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Because of his malformed hands, swinging a bat or wearing a baseball mitt is nearly impossible for Jeffrey Krinkel. Yet there he sits in the Valencia High varsity baseball team photo, suppressing his ever-present smile to emulate the players' serious stares.

There's no escaping the obvious: Jeffrey is different. From his recessed cheek bones and prominent eyes to the three large, fleshy fingers on each hand - all characteristics of Apert's Syndrome - the 15-year-old is unlike any of the ballplayers he idolizes.

But in the months since the younger son of two educators began hanging out at team practices and rooting for the Vikings at every home game, Jeffery has distinguished himself in another way, one that no one expected.

``He always brings a smile to us, always finds the best in things,'' said Wes Pascolla, 18, a catcher for Valencia High. ``He's dealing with more than I will ever have to deal with and he's always smiling. That puts a lot in perspective for (the players).''

Despite the more than 60 surgeries to his head and hands, the ninth-grader is the go-to guy when it comes to lifting the team's spirits. He shags fly balls during batting practice, carries the bats back to the dugout and he's even known to let loose a bark at the opposing team to get his guys pumped up.

According to John Krinkel, Jeffrey's dad and principal at Rio Norte Junior High in Valencia, his son may be nearing his 16th birthday, but his mental capacity is more on par with that of a 6- or 7-year-old.

Varsity coach Jared Snyder, who has known the boy since birth, invited Jeffrey out to a practice in January. He figured the spirited kid who loves cartoons and video games might enjoy topping off his day of Valencia High special education classes watching the baseball players hone their skills.

``He was shy at first. But now you watch him and he stands just like the guys do when they're taking batting practice,'' Snyder said, hunching over bended knees and placing his hands on his thighs. ``I'd say 90 percent of these guys would have been uncomfortable being around someone (who looked) so different. But they got to know him and they've just taken him in.''

Jeffrey's parents said their son - John Krinkel has a 22-year-old son from a previous marriage, an art major at a university in Long Beach - understands he is different, but that concept mostly centers on physical attributes.

Like most born with Apert's Syndrome, a genetic craniofacial disorder that occurs once in an estimated 160,000 live births, Jeffery was born with fused fingers and toes and his skull was prematurely fused, hindering normal brain growth.

He underwent his first cranial surgery just two months after birth. The fused skull must be separated to allow the brain to grow, a process that requires numerous surgeries over years.

Surgeons were able to separate and define three fingers and a thumb on each hand. Without knuckles Jeffrey has some trouble grasping rounded objects like a ball or pole, but he has adapted and relies on higher-than- normal wrist strength, said his mother, Ginny.

Because of the extensive surgeries, Jeffrey never wore anything on his head. That changed, however, the day the team gave him an official practice baseball cap in Vikings purple.

His mother, a special education teacher at Canyon High, said she's noticed a lot of changes in her ``kissy boy'' since he became an honorary member of the baseball team.

``Even as an infant, he wouldn't let anything on his head,'' Krinkel said. ``Now he wears it all the time. We were at a Dodger game recently and when the National Anthem came on, I noticed he took his hat off and placed it over his heart. I asked him where he learned that. He said all the guys do it.''

Jeffrey, who loves sushi, flying in airplanes and staying in hotels, doesn't talk as much as many of the guys on the team. But it's clear to both the players and the fans when the freckle-faced boy is ready for some baseball.

``I love baseball,'' Jeffery said during a recent game at Valencia High. ``My favorite is Jared Clark. Yeah!''

Many of Jeffrey's comments are punctuated with ``yeahs'' and ``woo- hoos,'' which he often finishes off with a pump of his fist, a la Tiger Woods after he sinks a putt. He denies that he was shy before he got to know the players, most of whom refuse to take the field until Jeffery has joined the pre-game huddle.

But when asked what the players did to make him feel welcome, Jeffrey paused for only a few seconds before giving his matter-of-fact answer.

``They loved me,'' he said.

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jeffrey Krinkel is at the center of the huddle with the Valencia High baseball team before the game begins.

(2 -- color) Jeffrey Krinkel, who attends every practice session and game, dives for a ball during outfield practice.

(3 -- 4) Jeffrey Krinkel, who was born with Apert's Syndrome, a disfiguring condition which can include reduced mental capacity, has a word, above, with Valencia High coach Jared Snyder. Left, Jeffrey shows off his moves to his teammates.

(5 -- 6) Jeffrey Krinkel, above, fools around with his pal, Valencia High pitcher Jared Clark. At right, he beams with a smile from the dugout for the team that's taken him in as a buddy.

David Crane/Staff Photographer