Smiling faces, great weather and a little exercise all came together last week at Clintonwood Park.
Clarkston varsity coach Phil Price led an Independence Township Parks and Recreation pre-t-ball camp which ran two sessions. The first ran from June 14-18 and the second from June 21-25 for boys and girls between four and six years of age. About 150 kids were enrolled in the camp over the two-week period, Price said.
The focal point of the camp was simply to try to instill some basic fundamentals in the young athletes, Price said.
‘It’s non-competitive. We play a game against another team on the last day (of the camp). You basically learn, after you hit the ball, what do you do? You put the bat down. Then where do you go? First base. You just try to instill real basics,? Price said.
In addition to basic hitting concepts, defense is also emphasized. ‘We work on fielding ground balls, getting the glove to the ground. It’s neat to see little kids out here running around,? Price said.
Someday, some of these athletes might end up playing for Price, who has served as a coach for the Wolves for 13 years. This year, his team made it to the regional final before losing to Brother Rice for the second consecutive year. His team won a share of the OAA I this year as well, also the second straight year Clarkston was crowned league champions.
‘The township does a great job supporting it and promoting the camp,? Price said.
A handful of current and former players of both the softball and continue to stay involved with the program, helping Price with the camp, he said.
‘I think it’s good that you learn from not just males or not just females,? he said. ‘I just try to teach them to get out and play. It’s going well.?
Price said he gets kids to return to the camp year after year, but he doesn’t have to institute anything new.
‘With kids this age, four, five, six years old, it’s only a week long. You can do just do the same thing with them and they have fun,? Price said.