The excitement started with each player receiving their camp
t-shirt, meeting the MLB players and taking a picture. After
stretching the players broke into groups. Due to size of the
facility, there was plenty of room for the MLB players to
demonstrate the fundamentals to the large group of players.
Bat-R-Up's large pitching and fielding area allowed Gil
Velasquez and Buck Thomas the room to demonstrate fielding
fundamentals and working one one one with each player. all the
hitting tunnels were active with Shane Victorino, Justin Leone,
Chris Carter, Tommy Pham, and Al Ramirez working with each
player on hitting fundamentals. Jeff Malm threw live batting
practice and passed along hitting tips.
One of the big highlights was the Q and A session with Shane
Victorino. It was awesome to see the smiles on the players faces
as they were able to ask questions and talk to a World Series
hero!
Bat-R-Up was at its loudest when the MLB players broke the
players into teams and they played a 9 inning cage hitting game.
The excitement was huge as the campers challenged each other and
the MLB Pro's. Watching the campers put the techniques they just
learned in to play was awesome!
The camp ended with each camper receiving a baseball signed by
all the MLB Players and each camper received their picture with
the Pro's. It was signed by each Pro player!
All proceeds went on to benefit the Todd Gamboa Fund. We are
still accepting donations.
Make checks payable to Bat-R-Up Batting Cages ITF The Gamboa Fund
2009 TODD GAMBOA MEMORIAL CAMP
IS GRAND SLAM AT BAT-R-UP
FACILITY
Todd Gamboa,
co-founder of Bat-R-Up, lost his life tragically in November
2006; but his partner and friend Al Ramirez vowed to keep his
memory alive by sponsoring the camp to raise money for Gamboa’s
children - 20-year-old Anthony, 12-year-old Cheyenne and
9-year-old Trey – with the two younger siblings attending the
clinic.
“The turnout was
amazing for what little publicity we did, and it will only get
bigger,” Ramirez said. “This year it was roughly 30, next year
it will be 60 and the following it will be 100.”
Added Maria Gamboa,
Todd’s widow: “This was beautiful, and it was something that
Todd would have absolutely loved. This was totally his element
today, and I am touched by everyone’s involvement.”
Also on hand was
Todd’s father, Vern, who roamed the facility along with the
campers while absorbing the incredible atmosphere brought on by
some of Southern Nevada’s finest youth baseball players, and was
visibly proud of the outreach by local baseball enthusiasts.
Campers
were instructed on hitting and fielding by professional players
and coaches, including current Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
Shane Victorino.
Joining him at the camp was
Dino Ebel, Third
Base Coach for the Anaheim Angels, former Major Leaguer
Chris Latham (Twins,
Blue Jays, Yankees), Minor League players:
Justin Leone of the
Fresno Grizzlies (Giants AAA),
Gil Velazquez
formerly of the Rochester Red Wings (Twins AAA) and a current
non-roster invitee of the Red Sox,
Tommy Pham of the
Batavia Muckdogs (Cardinals A),
Chris Carter
Stockton Ports (Athletics A) and Associate Scout for the Anaheim
Angels
Buck Thomas.
The two-day event
included hands-on defensive techniques, led by Ebel, also
a
former
minor league baseball
player and
manager for the Los
Angeles Dodgers organization; the offensive skills included
tutelage from Victorino, the Phillies’ starting right fielder
for the 2007 season.
Victorino joked
with campers over the two days while tutoring them on their
hitting, but stunned the attendees with a story about
perseverance while he was playing for Ebel with the Double-A
Jacksonville Suns (Dodgers).
“I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do
today if it wasn’t for my parents. They’re a big reason for
where I’m at today. I remember walking home after a game. I
walked down the road and the whole way home I said ‘I’m going to
quit, I’m done, I don’t want to play this game, I’m not having
fun.’ I called my parents and I said ‘Mom and Dad I’m done. I’m
over it, I’m taking the next flight home.’
My mom said to me: ‘Shane you set a goal
right?’
"I said ‘yeah I set a goal Ma.’
"She said ‘well you go after your goal until
they take that jersey off your back.’
"You know what, from that day on I turned my
career around, and I thank my parents.”
For Cheyenne and Trey Gamboa – not to mention
Maria, Vern and Anthony - many thanks go out to the parents and
campers who attended the 2008 Todd Gamboa Memorial Baseball
Camp, as the first was a success.
Ramirez plans on holding additional baseball
camps, college-recruiting workshops and additional batting and
pitching clinics.
“Al has transformed
this into a baseball training complex; you guys get some of the
greatest training right here at Bat R Up,” Easler told the
campers.
Added Ramirez: “And at the start of each year
we will come together to have fun at Bat-R-Up and remember one
of the founding members of our family – Todd Gamboa – keeping
his goal alive.”
