There is a
lot of information for softball players to digest this week in Xavier Prep’s
summer camp, but Gators head coach Brad Downes and assistant Deryk Sexton are
doing all they can to provide the 19 campers with a well-rounded experience.
The daily
sessions (Monday June 10 through Thursday June 13) begin at 7 a.m. and run
until 10 a.m. The first part of the time is spent on the field at XCP’s
Petznick Field, and when the weather starts to heat up, the action moves inside
to Vestar Hall.
Downes said
the players range from fifth through ninth grades. A few ninth graders could
wind up playing for Xavier’s frosh team next spring. Some players are more
experienced, including club/summer play, others not as much.
“We want to
give them a mix of everything, and for them to have fun doing it,’’ he said.
Fundamentals
are very important, and the girls compete in various categories, putting their
defensive skills to work.
There are
two teams, the Swamp Gators and the Avocado Toast.
Once
Tuesday’s (June 11) session moved to Vestar, the players took their swings with
their favorite bats at wiffle balls. The floor was littered with the yellow and
white wiffles, and part of the players duties included picking them back up.
Baserunning
and more defense are on the agenda for Wednesday (June 12).
The coaches
are assisted by a handful of players from Xavier’s team that finished with a
17-5 record in the spring of 2019, Downes’ first as head coach.
“If there is
something we can see the campers do that would be helpful to their swing or any
other part of the game (adjustments), we do that. We want them to feel like
they have improved,’’ Downes said.
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