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‘Play ball!’ with the best

July 4, 2013   ·   0 Comments

With the baseball season in full swing, Ivy Minor Baseball is once again holding their annual Blue Jays Instructional Clinic on Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ivy Diamond.

For $40, participants will get to spend the day with some instructional coaches from the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team to work on the fundamentals of baseball and learn a few tips.

The fee also includes snacks, lunch and each participant will receive a Blue Jays t-shirt and hat.

Half of the proceeds from the event are going to Ivy Minor Baseball.

Charlene Vanderpost, president of Ivy Minor Baseball, said the event has been met with plenty of interest and participation in the roughly 15 years it has taken place.

“It’s been something that happens every summer – some of the instructional coaches from the Toronto Blue Jays come up and the kids get some good feedback,” Vanderpost explained. “Because it’s always some of the Blue Jays coaches that are coming up, they get that heightened feedback from people who have a lot of experience and it’s also because the Blue Jays are trying to give back to the community as well.”

Blue Jays Instructors participating in the event include John Hashimoto, John Milton and Andrew Pearl.

“It’s astounding to see the kids out there playing with these guys,” added Vanderpost. “To see them hitting and learning pitching – and to see the kids coming off the field excited after getting their hat or shirt signed by these guys, they are just amazed and wowed – especially the younger ones who idolize the Jays.”

Some of the money raised from previous years of holding the clinic has gone to good use, including the new dugouts that were recently built at Ivy Diamond.

Vanderpost said she can already sense excitement starting to build in anticipation of the event.

“I know the kids love it and it’s neat to see them getting that feedback and learning experience. We do this to try and give back to them a little bit,” she said.

“It’s cool to be able to have it year after year. Not very many places get to host a Blue Jays clinic, so Ivy Minor Baseball has been very fortunate to be able to promote this for so many years up in our area.”

For more information or to register for the clinic, visit www.bluejays.com/baseballacademy

By Jeff Doner

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