As Brantley Thompson (above) was practicing the proper technique for fielding a grounder, Caleb Connor instructed him to put his left leg out front.
For a moment though, the direction puzzled the second grader, and his foot position was opposite of what Connor wanted.
But despite his young age, Thompson wasn’t shy about explaining his confusion.
“I don’t know my lefts and my rights.”
Thompson was one of 50 first through sixth graders who upped his skills at the Clipper youth baseball camp on Sunday afternoon. Despite the minor obstacle during the fielding exercise, he was liking the clinic.
“I’m learning how to pitch and bat and play outfield and infield. I like baseball. It’s one of my favorite sports.”
In line with the school’s effort to upgrade its youth sports programs, head varsity baseball coach Mike Krenik decided to resurrect the camp after a five-year hiatus.
“We wanted to start the kids out young with learning their fundamental skills so they can have a little more success at performing baseball and have fun at the same time.”
The group started the three-hour camp with 24 first and second graders in the new gym for base running, throwing and fielding and the old gym for hitting, including a homerun contest. Meanwhile, the dozen fifth and sixth graders practiced skills on the main softball field while the 14 third and fourth graders set up camp on the small baseball field.
Later, the youngest group moved to the softball field while the oldest went to the varsity baseball field.
An army of volunteers supported the camp.
Helping assistant baseball coach Dave Cink mentor the oldest group were parents Andy Smith, Pete Lyons, Joe Seeman and Chris Roemhildt and baseball players Kale Kelley, Kyle Connor and Braeden Smith.
Aiding Krenik with the middle group were junior high coach Jeff Skinner, parents John Kluntz, Jamie Domras, Danny Schmidt, Travis Mons and Sean McLister and baseball players Jack Voit, Alex Garcia and Aiden Domras.
Assisting junior high coach Charlie Haugen with youngest group were parents Matt Thompson, Bill Connor, Derek Gibbs, Andy Schmidt, Dan Pearson and Dan Kopp and baseball players Caleb Connor, Gabe Sullivan, Alex Johnson, Brady Bostic, Nathan Seeman, Blake Gibbs and Jackson Kopp.
Krenik said many of the parents are involved in summer baseball programs, and the camp also helped them improve their coaching.
“It’s a good refresher for us, because for some of us, we haven’t been taught these skills since high school.”
While temps were in the lower 40s—and winter beanies took the place of baseball caps—the cold was manageable because, thankfully, there was little wind.
Taking care of registration were parents Nikki Smith, Michelle Roemhildt, Katie Hoffmann and Rebecca Connor.
The money raised from the camp, about $1,000, will go directly back to the baseball program, especially improving the fields, including adding a watering system to the varsity infield, Krenik said.
Matching with the school’s camps for football, basketball and volleyball, the group hopes to make the baseball camp an annual event.
Pete Lyons helps a player with batting technique.
Brady Bostic was helping with first and second graders.
Mike Krenik wanted every camp attendee to practice pitching.
Third and fourth graders working on pitching skills.
First and second graders lined up to take a turn at the plate.
Fifth and sixth graders.
Coach Dave Cink shows how to swing a bat with the body.
Fifth and sixth graders listen to batting instruction in the softball dugout.
Matt Thompson gives second graders some base running pointers.
First and second graders prep for a pop fly catching drill.
Charlie Haugen instructs first and second graders.
Dan Pearson teaches first and second graders how to arc their way around first base.
Bill Connor works with first and second graders on fielding a grounder.
First and second graders work on their infield stance.
Camp attendees and coaches.
Alex Johnson, Gabe Sullivan and Brady Bostic were among the baseball players who helped with the camp.