It was great to see members of the three rival youth clubs mingling with each other and playing along side each other during the practice game.

The M.A.B.S. Baseball Academy organized a two-day training camp at the Gozo Stadium on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, 2013. The program was designed and conducted by Academy Head Instructor Patrick Pace.

The group of 24 youth team players who attended the training camp also including 9 Redcoats players. The coaching staff was made up of Steve Sexton, Keith Bartolo, and the Redcoats’ Charles E. Attard, Joseph Scicluna, Loreto Scicluna and Josef Cutajar.

The first part of the program on Day was focused on throwing, catching and fielding the ball. The players were split into several small groups. Several stations were set up at the Gozo Stadium with a coach responsible for each station. Each group of players would pass from one station to the next spending about 15 minutes per station. Lunch on Day 1 was at the Universal Sports Bar & Grill overlooking the Gozo Stadium.

The afternoon session of Day 1 was wrapped up with a game between the Academy players. It was great to see members of the three rival youth clubs mingling with each other and playing along side each other during the practice game.

The members of the Baseball Academy were staying at Dar San Guzepp in Ghajnsielem. Following a hard day’s work the players and coaches checked into the youths’ hostel to freshen up and then headed for dinner at the ClubHouse, also in Ghajnsielem. The Redcoats returned home and then joined the members of the Academy at the ClubHouse.

Day 2 started with a pitching clinic given by Charles E. Attard. Patrick Pace, Head of the MABS Academy followed this by how to master the technique of bunting. Most of the training session of Day 2 involved batting practice, with a pitching machine, off a tee, tossed balls and pitched balls. This was followed by a short game to close the two-day training camp.

The exhausted players along with the coaches had lunch at the ClubHouse to close what was an extremely productive training camp and a wonderful experience for all involved.