The boys ran the bases last Thursday as they played their last game during Clarkston High School Phil Price’s Baseball Camp for players ages 7-14.
Price, head coach for Wolves? Varsity Baseball, along with high school players, helped the boys work on the fundamentals on the game including throwing, catching, fielding, base running and rules of the game.
‘It’s really fun,? Ryan White smiled on the last day of camp in between throws to other players.
He explained it was his first time at the camp.
‘It’s good,? Matt Pflieger added about the camp.
The campers gathered one last time at the bleachers. Price took the moment and asked them to raise their hand if they ran more during the camp than they usually ran, as well as who swung the bat more and who took more ground balls during camp.
Seeing hands raised high, Price added, ‘what I encourage and challenge you guys to do is don’t let that happen next week. Swing the bat as much as you did this week. Run around as much as you did this week. Throw the ball as much as you did this week. Take as many ground balls as you did this week.?
He explained the importance to keep practicing with a story about when he was nine-years-old, just beginning to play baseball.
‘I was not very good,? he admitted. ‘I got to play half an inning because that’s what parks and recreation mandated ? everyone got to play some. I played half an inning or didn’t get to play. I didn’t like it that much. You have a choice ? if you don’t like something you can whine or pout about something, or you can do something about it. You can start by practicing.?
He gave the boys examples of how they could practice even if they couldn’t find someone to practice with. They could throw the ball against a wall, throw into the air and catch it, and hit baseballs off a tee.
‘Find a way to get better,? Price added. ‘As a varsity coach I look for three things – I want arm speed, bat speed and leg speed.?
He also encouraged the boys to keep playing especially to play other sports and to be competitive.
‘Thank you guys for coming,? he added before everyone left. ‘Get outside and play. It breaks my heart when I drive through neighborhoods and I don’t see kids outside playing. Make games up.?
The camp was offered through Clarkston Community Education. For more information or to check out other camps and activities offered this summer please visit www.clarkston.k12.mi.us/cec.