Abbotsford Camp Focuses on Hitting

12 more players enlist

Twelve eager young players listened attentively to guest hitting instructor Dave Paetkau explain and demonstrate proper hitting mechanics at Centenial park in Abbotsford last weekend.

An exhibition game against the Abbotsford Yard Dogs finished the day and Nick Levitsky's bases loaded blast made the difference as the youngsters (bolstered by Yard Dog pitchers Tyson Barkman, Harv Wiens, and Josh Wiens) defeated the locals 6-3.

This was the second camp sponsored by Softball Canada and Softball BC, aimed at developing and selecting a representative team from BC to attend the North American Championships in Charlottown PEI next July.

The first camp was held in Cordova Bay - near Victoria - two weeks ago and drew 22 players aged 16-19.

"We'll probably be the youngest team in the tournament" said head coach Milt Michael, "most of the players trying out are 18 and younger."

More camps and clinics are in the works over the winter and the club hopes to enter three teams into the Connaught Icebreaker before naming the final roster sometime in May 2009.