Diamond Dog Christmas Camp set for Saturday, December 7

Gardner-Webb Baseball head baseball coach Rusty Stroupe has announced the date for the Diamond Dog Baseball Christmas Camp. It will be held at Crest High School on Saturday, December 7. There will be a morning session from 9 a.m. to 12:30 for grades 1 to 6, and an afternoon session from 1 p.m. to 4:30 for grades 7 and up. Camp will feature opportunities to receive pitching instruction, hitting instruction, and defensive work at the catcher, infield, and outfield positions. Staff will include Gardner-Webb head coach Rusty Stroupe and pitching coach Ray Greene. Crest High School coach Stephen Hodge will serve as an instructor as well. Special guest instructor for the camp is former GWU All-Star and current major league baseball player Blake Lalli. Blake recently signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks after spending parts of the last two seasons in the major leagues as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Blake will be working with catchers and providing hitting instruction during the camp. 

Former GWU star Blake Lalli recently signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks

For those who wish to participate, there is no pre-registration form. Simply send an email to rstroupe@gardner-webb.edu or call 704-406-4421and indicate the participant's name, age, and name of school if you are a high school or middle school player. The $40 fee can be paid on the day of camp. If you sign up for camp and determine later that you won't be able to attend, for planning purposes please send an email to indicate that you won't be attending.

Also, slightly used Demarini BBCOR baseball bats will be on sale for $60 at camp. These are the bats required for high school use. Sizes will include 32, 33, and 34 ounce bats while supplies last. Hats, GWU baseball t-shirts, and adult size GWU game jerseys will also be on sale that day.

IMPORTANT INFO:

What to wear and what to bring- Wear what you feel comfortable wearing whether that's your uniform, sweat pants and sweat shirt or whatever. Bring a hat and if you bring spikes, please also bring flat shoes to wear in the indoor cage. Bring your glove and if you have a bat, make sure it is marked with your name. Bring a batting helmet if you have one as well.

Where to go- Both the morning and afternoon sessions of camp will take place at the Crest High School baseball field in Boiling Springs.

How to pay- Please do not pay in advance. You can pay the $40 fee in cash or by check on the day of camp. Checks should be made out to Diamond Dog Baseball.

What to do if there is inclement weather- Because Crest has indoor cages, camp will likely take place regardless of the weather. But if you have concerns, check www.gwubaseball.blogspot.com the day before the camp for weather updates. If there is no update, then camp will be held as scheduled. 

Schedule- Camp will begin with proper stretching and warm-up and quickly move to defensive position work. Pitchers will each throw a bullpen at some point and catchers will catch those bullpens while receiving instruction. Infielders and outfielders will be on the main field doing drills during that time. Afterward, any participant who wants to hit will have the opportunity for drill work in the cages and live hitting on the field. Those who wish to only concentrate on pitching will be able to continue to work with a pitching instructor for drills, techniques, etc. during the hitting sessions.