Last summer incoming baseball coach Landy Cox wasted little time in putting his thumbprint on Berkeley Stags baseball program, hosting a summer camp barely a week after being named head coach.
“I wanted to come in here and start with the younger kids, teaching them the way we want them to play baseball coming up through the program,” Cox said a year ago. “Plus it gives these kids a chance to work with and get to know the players on the high school team on a more personal level which will maybe get them out here to watch a few games.”
Last week, Cox and several current and former Stags baseball players held their second summer baseball camp drawing 84 kids from ages 6 through 14.
“We had a really good turnout given the state of the economy right now,” Cox said. “We tried to keep it affordable because we first want to teach these kids some baseball skills. We worked on hitting, pitching and fielding fundamentals during the week, splitting the time with actual scrimmages.”
On the final day of the camp Cox, likes to let the kids have a little fun.
“We play home run derby,” he said. “It gives the kids a chance to work on their hitting techniques plus have a little fun at the same time.”
Former Stag Nick Orvin, now playing for The Citadel was a guest instructor. Current Stags Tradd Yonce and graduating senior Thurman Pellum who recently signed to play college ball at USC Beaufort were on hand to work on fielding and pitching drills.
As for next year’s team, Cox is hard at work looking at filling the holes vacated by this year’s graduating seniors. “We have a lot coming back and a good crop of talent coming up through our JV and B teams this year,” he said.
Cox will need to find a catcher to replace Brad Barwick who will suit up for Darlington Tech JC next year, and spots around the infield and outfield to replace Cam Sessions, Bryce Baur and Thurman Pellum. All have inked baseball scholarships with Sessions going to Charleston Southern and Baur playing for Francis Marion.
The Stags were to play Cane Bay in a scrimmage on Tuesday night and Ashley Ridge on Thursday. “This is a great opportunity to get these younger kids their first taste at baseball on the varsity level,” Cox said.