Back to basics

WASILLA — Wasilla High School baseball players present and future got together inside the school’s gymnasium for a day’s worth of fun — and fundamentals — Monday, and both groups learned a little something about the game.    

“The main thing for me, as we’re running the clinic I can train our players, and then when they train the little guys, it gets them thinking about it again,” first-year Wasilla head coach Shane McRee said while keeping an eye on a group of elementary-aged players tossing around a rubber safety ball.

McRee said the clinic attracted approximately 24 youth baseball players ranging in age from 6 to 13. Taking part in a variety of drills supervised by Wasilla coaches and players, the youngsters got an in-depth introduction to some of the most basic and necessary skills needed to become a complete player.

“That’s the key,” he said. “They need fundamentals so they can develop into well-rounded baseball players.”

WHS sophomore Chris Bydlon said that after a day’s worth of sharing his baseball knowledge with the younger players, he felt like his own skills got a bit of a boost.

“It gets you thinking about the basics,” Bydlon said.

In the morning session of the camp, players were put through a series of drills designed to mimic a typical high school practice. McRee said the idea behind the drills was to show the youth players the proper way of doing things, as well as provide a confidence boost.

“That way, they know they’re doing something the big boys do,” he said.

Later in the day, teams were formed and pick-up games organized between high school players and clinic participants. During those games, McRee said he saw some flashes of brilliance from some of the younger players.

“They actually, in some of the competitions, put out some of the high school guys,” he said. “That’s a great thing all around. The older guys will laugh about it, but the younger guys will get a confidence boost out of it.”

Bydlon said he was impressed with the skills some of the kids attending the camp put on display.

“There’s some pretty good players out there,” he said.

The camp was a fundraiser for the WHS baseball program, and McRee said he’d like to make it an annual event. In addition to building closer ties between the Warriors and local youth baseball players, McRee said he’s got another motivation for getting to the youngsters early.

“To make a baseball program, we’ve gotta start with the young guys,” he said.

After all, he said, it won’t be long before Monday’s clinic attendees grow up, and McRee — himself a WHS grad — said he’d like to see them help out his team in the future.

“Someday they’ll be right here, playing high school ball.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com