Put Me In, Coach!

On Saturday, Feb. 6 St. Charles Community College Baseball team hosted and sponsored an event called Baseball Camp. The Camp was hosted in the College Center gymnasium and young men from High schools all over the state were able to attend the event. Coach Gober sent out an e-mail to all of the high school coaches in the state of Missouri to give their sophomore through senior baseball players a chance to shine.   Registration to participate was held in Room 104 at 9:30 am of the CC building and cost $75 dollars per person.

Evan Stephan a student from Afton High school said, “I saw the advertisement on the SCC website and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be evaluated for a position on a team when I go to college.”

From 10 am to 4 pm High School baseball players were being evaluated based on the potential skills they have in all areas of baseball. Activities at this event began at 10 am starting with a 40-yard dash including all players, outfielders throwing for velocity, and infielders taking ground balls and throwing for velocity. From 11 am to 12 pm catchers and pitchers report for pop time and hitting in the batting cage and with pitchers throwing off mounds to catchers. 

Michael Harp, a high school senior from West County said, “I thought the tryouts were kind of challenging but it makes you want to try harder.” 

Opportunities for scholarships were also awarded to players that stood out to the coaches. This baseball event provided opportunities for students to get their name out there to possibly be recruited not only by SCC coaches but given an open door to play at any college. “We would like to host the event each year before the season starts to give these young baseball players the opportunity to be noticed and picked for scholarships, and to help our college and other colleges get potential players on the team,” SSC baseball coach Gober said.

Stan Walden, a scout who attended the event said, “I’d like to see what kind of potential these guys have so that they can have the opportunity to play ball in college, especially junior and seniors who are getting ready to start their college careers.”
Parents also attended the event to watch their kids perform. “The parents I talked to seemed pretty pleased that their kids were given the opportunity to show off their skills to coaches and scouts.” Gober said. 

Sounds like the Baseball Camp was a success and beneficial for future scholars in baseball, and will be returning in the future to offer upcoming college students an opportunity to pursue their dreams in baseball.