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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Adam Arrington runs drills with Steers campers for Steers baseball camp Tuesday, June 3. Arrington serves as the Lady Blues softball head coach. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Allen McGee teaches campers fielding techniques at Steers baseball camp Tuesday, June 3. McGee serves as the Steers baseball head coach in Graham. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Recently graduated Steers first baseman Colter Johnson helps teach students how to pick ground balls at first base Tuesday, June 3.
Both the Steers and Lady Blues have been busy so far this season coaching up their players in summer leagues and introducing the youth to sports with summer camps.
The Steers picked up their schedule this week with baseball camp. The camp, which was held alongside Lady Blues basketball camp, was held Monday, June 2, to Wednesday, June 4.
Incoming second through fifth graders held the opening session of the day and the incoming 6th through 9th graders took the later session.
Similar to the themes of much of the camps so far, the goal for the younger children is to build an interest in the game of baseball.
For the older participants, the goal is to enhance their skills and give them the tools needed to compete in high school.
“With the younger kids it’s just about creating enjoyment for the game,” Steers coach Allen McGee said. “We try to keep the competitions going with them, just to get the competition bred in from an early age.”
Several games that McGee said the staff plays with the younger kids are games like “bucket throw” and other baserunning themed games to keep them engaged while also learning the fundamentals.
“With the older kids we start doing a little more fine tuning stuff,” McGee said. “We take a lot of what we do with the high school team and translate it into camp. That way they have an understanding when they come to high school of our terminology.”
One of the main keys that McGee emphasized is just learning how to throw the ball properly. Getting down that fundamental is essential for the success of a player and a team going forward.
The youth of Graham got to learn from the community’s finest with McGee alongside coaches like Adam Arrington who is the head coach of Lady Blues softball.
Colter Johnson, a recent Graham High School graduate and first baseman for the Steers this past season, was also helping the participants learn their skills and have a good time.
The Steers will hold their next camp in the main GHS gym of for basketball camp from Monday, June 9, to Wednesday June 11 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for incoming 1st through 5th graders and noon to 2 p.m. for incoming 6th through 9th graders.
