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Meramec Hosts Little League Slideshow
There is a crack from the contact of ball to bat; cheers and yelling erupt as the player rounds the bases. It is not the Cardinals at Busch Stadium and not the Magic baseball team hitting another run. It is the children from Meramec's Summer Baseball and Softball Camp bringing their teammate home.
From June 8 to June 11, local children between ages 6 and 13 learned the fundamentals of baseball and softball from Meramec's head baseball coach Tony Dattoli and incoming head softball coach Kim McCall.
Dattoli has headed the youth summer program for the past three years. Dattoli said he feels it is something the college should be doing for the surrounding community.
"It gives a chance to introduce the college to kids in the community and teach baseball," Dattoli said.
The youth camp was four days long and children learned the basics of throwing, hitting and fielding along with game strategies.
"We're here to give advice, teach simulations and how to choose which plays to use," Dattoli said. "Then they can play at a higher level and have fun while doing it." In addition to fundamentals, Dattoli teaches agility and speed drills for physical conditioning.
"We keep them active and moving," Dattoli said.
William Feldenberg, 11, said he was excited to be on a real baseball field.
"I usually play in the street with my friends at home," Feldenberg said. Dattoli said the three four-day sessions average about 100 children every summer. In addition to McCall, the summer program is staffed by some of Meramec's assistant baseball coaches.
The second session is from June 15 through June 19, and the final session is from June 22 through June 25.
"For the kids, this camp teaches sportsmanship," Dattoli said. "It is not about winning or losing, it is about playing the game right."
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