by Joe DiBlasi
(See video below)
The Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore City held a baseball clinic at
Carroll Park on Saturday that attracted lots of youngsters from age 7
through 15, and the participants had the benefit of learning from the pros. On hand to
teach hitting and fielding were former Orioles Al Bumbry, Curt Motten
and Bill Swaggerty, along with modern day O's Ramon Hernandez,
Luis Hernandez, Freddie Bynum and first -base coach and former Bird
John "T-Bone" Shelby.
Dean Albany, the Oriole Director of Scouting for the East Coast, coordinated the event, and he was impressed with the turnout
"All of these players have aspirations, and one day, some of these
youngsters might make it all the way to the major league level," said
Albany, and he should know. Albany's Youse-Maryland Oriole team, which competes in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League has a number
of top notch players, some of which have bonafide major league potential.
Most Marylanders are familiar with Gavin Floyd (Chicago White Sox) and
Mark Tiexiera (Atlanta Braves), but there are others who were recently
drafted that have great potential. Brandon Irby (McDonogh), a third
round pick a few years ago has pitched well in Frederick, for the Orioles' organization. The former
Eagle has a fast ball that is constantly clocked in the mid-90's.
Cory Spoon hurled three complete games last year at Frederick, and
the Angels have Nick Adenhart (Northeast High) on their big league
sqaud this season. At 21, he's he youngest pitcher in the majors.
Next week the Orioles will have the fourth pick in the MLB draft.
"We're studying hard to make the right choice, but that pick will
probably not come from the area," said Albany.
Albany and Andy MacPhail, the President of
Baseball Operations for the O's, have been meeting on regular basis to
determine if there is another star of the future looming on the horizon.
"Towson University's Brian Connelly and Justin Moore of Dundalk Community College (Chesapeake AA) have promise," said Albany.
Albany will field another strong team in the collegiate league, which
opens next Friday. He'll have Joe Vellegia, of Old Dominion and Calvert
Hall, returning to anchor the middle of the lineup. Vellegia was the
tourney MVP in the prestigious Johnstown, Pensylvania tTurney, where Baltimore
has been winning championships for over 50 years. Early championship teams in Johnstown played under the banner of Leone's, then Johnny's-Leones. Players like Al Kaline and Reggie Jackson once patrolled the outfield for Walter Youse in the 50's and 60's.
Albany will also count on Steve Bumbrey (Dulaney), who is the son of
former Oriole Al Bumbry, Scott Swinson (University of Maryland), who
threw at no-hitter against Delaware last year, and Nick Vetoli, a solid
player from Towson University.
"We're teaching the kidsfundamentals," said Shelby, who was working
with the youngest players at the clinic, hitting balls off of a tee.
"With a good level swing, these kids will learn how to swing by
focusing on seeing the ball. It's all about
concentration."
"I'm here to learn from an Oriole," said Michael Furlong, an
infielder, who hopes to play for the Varsity at Digital Harbor next
year.
"I just want to play baseball," said Mike Corn. "Working with these
professional players should help me play better." Corn is an eighth-grader from Diggs Johnson Elementary.
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