AJ Sports

Baseball camp offers elite coaching staff

Twenty-three-year-old Ken Spangenberg, director of the Baseball Skills Camp at Ackerly Field and in partnership with the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board (AAJRB), hopes to pass along skills needed to play the game at his baseball skills camp starting August 3.

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Shown above, participants of Ken Spangenberg’s previous clinic, front row from left: Garrett Mackay, Liam Seymour, Patrick Tully, Matt Ruotolo, AJ Gabello. Back row: Keystone Assistant Coach Ken Spangenberg, Keystone player Eric Groff, Keystone Head Coach Scott Kingston.

Abington Journal Photo/ Joanna Shumaker

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Keystone player, Eric Groff, shows children batting techniques while Coach Scott Kingston talks through the techniques.

Abington Journal Photo/ Joanna Shumaker

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A baseball coach at Keystone College, Spangenberg attended Arcadia University, where he played baseball, mostly second base, for four years. He was at Conference for three years and also worked “a ton of baseball camps.” Of his experience he said, “I’m trying to take everything I liked from all of the baseball camps and combine it into one camp.” This means his main focus will be in teaching students hitting, pitching and defense, with some bunting and agilities coordinated with baseball sets.

“The best part of this camp is that we have lots of local help, ranging from the Keystone College coaching staff to Abington Heights High School championship players and their coaches,” said Spangenberg.

The camp, which will take place August 3 to 7, will be broken up into two groups. First through fourth graders will play from 9 to 11 a.m. and fifth through eighth grade students from 6 to 8 p.m. Spangenberg hopes for a 12 student or less- to -one instructor ratio and emphasized how the Baseball Skills Camp is geared toward teaching basic fundamentals by keeping students really active and not just spending time talking to them.

Debbie Elwell, camp coordinator and physical education teacher from the Abington area, spoke about her belief in promoting the Abington Area Parks, health, activity and giving the children something fun to do in the summer. She explained that part of the $100 sign up fee for the camp will benefit Earth Camp 2010, where kids will do everything from “building rockets to hiking, working with clay, feeding horses and using the pond for boating and fishing schools in a well-rounded program.” The Baseball Skills Camp fundraiser allows Earth Camp to charge a nominal fee so it can encompass more children. Elwell hopes to see a lot of students signed up to play ball.

“There is a very large baseball interest in this area and with Abington Heights High School having such a great year going to the State Championship and winning…everyone’s enthusiasm is riding high,” said Elwell. She expects this enthusiasm will carry over and result in a good turnout for the Baseball Skills Camp.

Those interested in the camp can go to www.abingtonparks.com to register. A limited number of spaces are available.

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