A D V E R T I S E M E N T
'Welcome to the Big Diamond' camp offers
smoother transition to regular baseball fields
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DENVILLE - Some years ago, a group of parents approached Frank Elias and asked him to consider expanding the baseball camp he has run in conjunction with the Denville Recreation Department each summer since 1973.
Elias has a "Baseball Basics" camp for youngsters aged 5 and 6 and a "Regular Baseball Camp" for players from 7-12 years of age.
"A lot of the parents were concerned about their 12-year-old Little League graduates moving on to playing on a bigger field for their next season, whether it would be high school or Babe Ruth League ball," said Elias, who has been with the camp since it started 38 years ago. "They thought a week's worth of instruction would help ease the transition."
And so the "Welcome to the Big Diamond" segment of his camp was born.
This year's camp will be held Monday, July 11 through Friday, July 15, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Gardner Field.
Elias likes to keep the camp size down to 20 so each player can get plenty of individual instruction working on specific needs.
"The teaching in this camp is geared to preparing the player to meet the expectations of playing freshman baseball on the high school level," Elias says. "Along with proper hitting, fielding and throwing techniques, we also emphasize the parts of the game that have changed from Little League baseball to high school and Babe Ruth League baseball.
"Pickoffs and working from the stretch for the pitchers ... taking leads, leading off bases and baserunning. There is a big change in the game and it's not just the longer distances between bases and the longer distance between the mound and home plate."
Bob Taylor, who coaches the Denville Dawgs entry in a 50/70 Cerbo 11U summer baseball league that plays on fields bigger than Little League but smaller than regular baseball, noticed the problems some of the players where having in making the transition to a bigger field.
"We had several practices rained out and we were hoping to us that time to make the players familiar with the longer distances and the different rules," Taylor said. "We're into the season now and are still grasping the concept of pitchers holding on runner, pickoffs, leading, stealing as well as adjusting to the slightly bigger field."
Little League distances are 45 feet from home to the pitcher's rubber and 60 feet between each base; the 50/70 league is just that - 50 feet pitching distance and 70 feet between bases; on a regular baseball diamond the pitching distance is 60-feet, 6-inches and its 90 feet between bases.
"Because of the larger field, many of the fundamental techniques change," Elias says. "Each position has a multitude of new responsibilities that will define the ability of each player's future.
"Learning these new fundamentals and techniques from experienced coaches will greatly enhance each players' skills and baseball knowledge so they can better make the transition to the bigger field and regular baseball rules.
"Plus, the player will not experience the pressure at our camp that he might experience in a tryout situation, where the results of his hitting, fielding and running would determine whether or not he makes the team."
The cost for each camper is $145 for the week. Players are to provide their own equipment - baseball pants, hat, glove, bat and any special gear needed. No lunch is need and drinks will be provided for the campers.
Registration forms can be found at www.Denvillerecreationbaseballcamp.com or by scrolling down further on this page.
Elias can also be reached at 973-895-4643 should you have any questions or need more information.
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More Happy Campers: The campers have a meeting with the instructors (above) ... the instructors strike a pose on the last day of the first week's session (below) ... and (bottom photo) the campers get briefed as to what they will be doing in their next drill.
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Photos by Nicole Bonfiglio
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