One of the Hometown Championship’s efforts to teach players ‘how to play the game’ was by this year adding the Boys High School Showcase. The Showcase took place on the Wayne State University (WSU) campus on August 1, with Wayne State’s baseball coaching staff and players overseeing all of the action. The idea of this showcase was to attract players who have their sights set on playing baseball on the collegiate level, then giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves in a college setting while receiving fundamental skills training from college players and coaches.
Heading up this event was WSU assistant coach John DiLaura. DiLaura, who according to wsuathletics.com, is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and one of the newest additions to the Warriors’ coaching staff, felt it was a great thing for the players to be able to come out and display their skills.
“It was good to give these kids the opportunity to showcase their ability,” DiLaura said. “It was good for Wayne State to partner up with the Tigers and give these kids a chance. Overall it was just a great experience.”
According to Coach DiLaura, there were about 50 kids in attendance, with ages ranging from 14-18. For the younger players, he explained that it was great for them to be out there getting experience early. The same can be said for the tournament participants in the machine-pitch, 10 and 12 & under divisions that competed in the Pitch, Hit, and Run competition.
As we all know, no child likes to be left out, so while the High School Prospects had their showcase, the PHR competition presented the younger athletes the same opportunity to show off their throwing arms, hitting power, quick feet and running ability.
Coordinating the competition was Steve Brown, who serves as the head coach of the baseball squad at Henry Ford Community College. Coach Brown has been involved with the Hometown Championships since its inception and has seen the growth over the years. One of the things he mentioned about the growth of the program was the Pitch, Hit, and Run competition as he iterated that “having the competition, added another piece where kids were able to display some of their individual skills and (you know) have some fun with it.”
As Brown confirmed the kids’ excitement in participating and his excitement in hosting PH&R, he also spoke on the event in terms of it being a teaching tool for the young players.
“I thought it would give them some things to work at, in terms of the different skills; whether it’s their speed, their swing, or their throwing and their accuracy…so it was just good overall,” Brown stated.
To continue to live up to the billing of the DTHC being a ‘good (or great) overall experience’, the Detroit Tigers and YDC held their Community Fun Day on August 3, which also took place at Balduck. There from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., an estimated 200 fun day attendees of all ages were treated to an extraordinary day of fun in the park with food, arts & crafts, games and more.
“We had not only all of the ball games going on, but at Balduck park we had a tent with arts & crafts, MY TV20 (media partner) supported us with bouncers, the kids did face painting, and (we had) popcorn and ice cream,” Williams (of YDC) said. “It was just a way for the community to come in and take part.”
Williams explained that Community Fun Day was their way of giving back to the community, but as it turns out, having a youth-centered group of events with a plethora of positive reinforcement is a gift within itself. It gives kids a platform, in which they may strive to do something good (and fun). Also, it gives parents and family the opportunity to support all the children and enjoy the City of Detroit.
“It was good to be down here to see this side of the city. Balduck was good, this field (Woodbridge Community Center) was good; heck of a time. Everybody was great. Everything (was great): the free popcorn, the family day with the bounce houses, everything. They really did a great job, they really did,” said Mike Kelly, a parent from St. Claire Shores.
“First of all, the facility (U of D Mercy) is a beautiful facility; we had one game here before. Today was a challenging day. Both teams played to the best of their skill, but in the long run, the (Butzel) Phoenix were the winners, which everybody kind of knew they were going to be (laughs),”inputted Detroit parent, Sherry Billingslea.
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