Redbird Baseball Summer Camps Now Open for Registration

[February 08, 2008]  NORMAL -- Illinois State head baseball coach Jim Brownlee and his staff have announced the dates for the upcoming summer baseball clinics, including the High School Advanced Skills Camp Aug.16-17. Participants can find downloadable forms for all of the summer clinics by clicking on the "Camps" link on the left sidebar of the front page of GoRedbirds.com. (Baseball camp schedule)

The advanced skills camp is a great opportunity for high school-aged players, grades 10-12, who aspire to play baseball at the collegiate level. The two-day camp, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., is offered to teach players what it takes to be successful at both the high school and collegiate levels. The camp includes offensive and defensive instruction, in addition to discussion about the recruiting process and baseball-specific strength training. Each camper will also get the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of other college coaches by playing in two scrimmage games during the all-day sessions.

Due to the construction of the new ISU baseball stadium, Redbird baseball has partnered with Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington to host the advanced skills camp at Jack Horenberger Field. The cost for the camp is $200, with spots filling up quickly.

The Redbird baseball coaching staff will also offer two sessions of the offense-defense camp, which will be at the McLean County Pony Baseball Complex. The camp’s primary goal is to teach participants, ages 11-17, the basic fundamentals of both offense and defense. Each camp session will begin with instruction on throwing mechanics, defensive play and hitting mechanics, and will finish with a game. Session 1 will run June 9-12 from 9 a.m.-noon, and cost for the camp is $125. The registration deadline for the first session is June 6.

Session 2 of the offense-defensive camp will be from 9 a.m.-noon June 23-26 at the Pony Baseball Complex. The cost is $125 per participant, and the deadline to register is June 20.

For players 9-17 years old who want to improve their games either on the mound or behind the plate, the ISU baseball coaching staff will offer two sessions of the pitching-catching camp at the Pony Baseball Complex. Pitching instruction will focus on proper catch routine, basic pitching mechanics and arm care. Catching instruction will focus on basic setup, as well as receiving, blocking and throwing mechanics. Session 1 will be June 9-12 from 1-3 p.m., and the deadline to sign up is June 6. The deadline to register for Session 2 is June 20. The cost for each session is $125.

For younger baseball players, ages 6-10, the developmental camp will cover all aspects of fundamental baseball, including proper throwing mechanics and catch routine. Participants will receive instruction on defensive play at all positions, and all offensive skills will also be covered. The camp runs June 16-19 at the Pony Baseball Complex and costs $125 per participant. The deadline to register is June 13.

Assistant baseball coach Mike Current believes that the ISU baseball clinics offer participants unique experiences, different than provided by most other baseball clinics.

"The participants have the opportunity to get some one-on-one evaluations with our staff that is not available at most clinics," said Current. "They will finish the camps knowing where they stand in their development as a player and will have recommendations on how to get better in the future."

For more information on any of the upcoming summer clinics, please contact Current at 309-438-3338 or via e-mail at [e-mail].

[Text from file received from John Sandberg, Illinois State University]